Fuller Center volunteers from a church in Denver helped rebuild a home in Texas City, thanks to funds from Catholic Charities.
HOUSTON – November 5, 2018 – Catholic Charities Disaster Recovery Services announced its partnership with the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders (Fuller Center) to build up to five homes for families impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Catholic Charities is building on its existing relationship with Fuller Center, which included funding to rebuild homes that were damaged. Now, the partners will construct new homes on land owned by families whose homes were damaged beyond repair by Harvey flooding.
Over the next two years, the $500,000 donation will support the recovery efforts still underway in Galveston County. Catholic Charities will also provide rent-free temporary housing and case management services until their homes are completed. To date, Catholic Charities’ Disaster Recovery Services has distributed more than $200,000 in assistance to households that experienced loss from Harvey flooding in Galveston County. Disaster recovery assistance – including case management and financial assistance – is available throughout the 10-county region served by Catholic Charities.
“Our role in disaster recovery is aimed at helping people return to normal, or as close to normal as possible. We are touched by the stories of everyone we serve and are honored to be able to work with The Fuller Center to help rebuild their homes,” said Brigid DeLoach, Catholic Charities’ Vice President of Disaster Recovery. “Catholic Charities is committed to assisting those in Galveston County through continued long-term recovery efforts.”
The Fuller Center, a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, will work alongside Catholic Charities to provide construction leadership, tools and the volunteers required to rebuild. The Fuller Center brings together community leaders and local organizations to pinpoint areas of greatest need in communities and build and repair affordable homes for those who are unable to secure adequate housing. Like Catholic Charities, the Fuller Center volunteers aim to continue supporting families in long-term recovery efforts while keeping hope alive in the region.
Immediately following Hurricane Harvey, Catholic Charities began providing disaster assistance to individuals and families over 10 counties in the Greater Houston area. Among the services they offer in Galveston County are basic needs and financial assistance, home repairs, and case management services which aim to help citizens in the area rebuild their lives. Catholic Charities also continues to support individuals throughout the area in a meaningful and personal way through individual home visits from case managers.
> Catholic Charities Disaster Recovery Services One-Year Impact Report
About Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders
The Fuller Center for Housing is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide. By forming partnerships with local organizations, The Fuller Center provides the structure, guidance and support that communities need to build and repair homes for the impoverished among them. The Fuller Center was started in spring of 2005 by Millard Fuller and his wife Linda, who together founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976. Fuller set out to expand his missionary vision by returning to his roots at Koinonia Farm, a cooperative community dedicated to peace and service in rural southwest Georgia. A new mission statement was issued at Koinonia – also the birthplace of Habitat – dedicating The Fuller Center as a Christ-centered, faith-driven organization witnessing the love of God by providing opportunities for families to have a simple, decent place to live. By working alongside volunteers and repaying construction costs on terms they can handle, homeowners are able to regain a sense of basic human dignity.