Habitat for Humanity International returned to the UCLA campus
last week when it became an officially recognized student
organization.
A chapter of the organization had been active on the UCLA campus
previously, but became inactive a few years ago, according to new
Habitat for Humanity president, Kevin Gerrity, a fourth-year
history student. After working with Habitat for Humanity
International as a final project in an urban planning class,
Gerrity made plans to revive the organization on campus.
By raising money and building houses, the international
organization works to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness
worldwide.
“Habitat for Humanity helps families within 25 to 50
percent of the Los Angeles average income,” said marketing
director Shayna Arnold, a third-year English student. “It
gives families who have the potential for financial stability
become stable. Homeowners also work one hundred hours with the
volunteers in the building of their homes.”
The UCLA chapter visits building sites in Los Angeles, Long
Beach, Van Nuys and San Gabriel Valley.
“It’s a great way to get involved because you see
the physical results of what you’ve done. It’s
gratifying to see that your hard work is going straight to
use,” Arnold said.
By the end of this year, the UCLA chapter of Habitat for
Humanity hopes to have a house, with the total $100,000-200,000
cost funded by UCLA through donors, alumni and fundraising,
completely built by UCLA students.
“It would be great for other clubs or sports teams to come
to the house as a group and help work on it one weekend. It will be
a way for the entire UCLA community to get together,” Gerrity
said.
In order to become an officially recognized student
organization, the UCLA Habitat for Humanity chapter must be
recognized by Associated Students of UCLA and become an official
chapter in the eyes of Habitat for Humanity International.
To do so, documents such as a constitution, a covenant and
by-laws had to be drawn up, and the chapter was required to provide
proof of fulfillment of the three fundamental roles of a chapter:
to fundraise, to build, and to educate.
While it takes most chapters a year to become official, Habitat
for Humanity plans to be official by the end of the quarter.
“It’s easier for us than most other chapters because
Habitat for Humanity existed on the UCLA campus before. We just
need to make a few minor adjustments to most of the
documents,” Gerrity said.
Another benefit of being a chapter of a large international
organization is students have either worked with other chapters of
Habitat for Humanity, or at least have heard of it.
“We say “˜Habitat for Humanity’ to students on
Bruin Walk, and they will recognize it. The response has been
overwhelming,” Gerrity said.
Habitat for Humanity International is having a meeting tonight
at Kerckhoff Grand Salon at 6:30 p.m. to recruit volunteers and
students interested in leadership.