Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church joined with two other congregations in blessing its 14th Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity house on Saturday, May 3.
The three-church coalition began work on the Washington Park neighborhood house in June 2013. Working with WAUMC was Christ King Parish in Wauwatosa and Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church in Menomonee Falls.
Together, the congregations raised approximately $30,000 to fund the project.
More than 50 volunteers contributed approximately 960 hours to build this Habitat house. Church volunteers helped the homeowners with framing, stair construction, dry walling, priming and painting, and interior carpentry work. Other volunteers cooked meals for the work crews.
The house was completed in February 2014, and homeowner Natasha Flowers, along with her daughters ages 18 and 6, moved into their new home in March.
All Habitat homeowners are required to contribute a minimum 250 hours of “sweat equity” to the building of their home and other Habitat houses. Those unable to perform construction tasks volunteer in Habitat offices. These hands-on efforts help give homeowners a vested interest in their houses.
Habitat for Humanity makes decent, affordable housing accessible to hard-working families with limited financial resources. Potential clients are interviewed and evaluated by Habitat staff as part of the approval process.
Upon taking occupancy, homeowners assume
responsibility for a 20-year, interest-free loan and must make monthly house payments of about $500 (includes taxes and insurance) to Habitat for Humanity.
“WAUMC is grateful to have helped fund and construct 14 Habitat for Humanity houses in Milwaukee's central city. This social justice organization is a perfect fit for our church as we ’Gather as friends, grow in faith and share God's love’,” WAUMC Pastor Sue Burwell explains.
WAUMC will frame its 15th Habitat for Humanity house on north 41st Street beginning June 17. All are welcome to participate in this outreach service. Contact Anne Neafie at 262-797-6562 or Neafie@wi.rr.com to volunteer.
Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church dates back to 1848 and began with 42-members. Today, the congregation is more than 400 strong and firmly committed to inclusiveness, celebrating a diversity of people, ideas and cultures.
WAUMC offers two Sunday services, Christian education classes for individuals ages 3 through adult, a variety of adult and youth music programs and Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops.
The congregation is involved with more than a dozen local, national and international mission outreach efforts.
The Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles, inclusive Vatican II Catholic Church celebrates Eucharist every Sunday in Wesley Hall at 9:45 a.m. on the WAUMC campus, as of Jan. 13, 2013.
For more information, call 414-453-0700 or visit www.waumc.org.
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