August 20, ,986. Portland Observer, Page 3
Habitat For Hum anity, Turning
Dreams into Reality
by Jerry Garner
be dream of most Americans is
to someday be a homeowner In
deed, millions of people are home
owners and millions more purchase
homes each year
Unfortunately, there are millions of
families across the country who,
due to financial reasons, aren't able
to fulfill their dreams of owning a
place of their own
Recognizing
this. Habitat For Humanity, Inc. was
created
Habitat For Humanity is a non
profit Christian housing ministry
that works with low income people
in an effort to improve the condi
lions in which they're forced to live
Millard Fuller, a wealthy southern
businessman, started the concept
of Habitat For Humanity in 1968
Fuller decided to give away his
money to help build decent housing
for the needy after going through
personal problems in pursuit of the
dollar.
In 1973, Fuller and his family
moved to Zaire in central Africa In
the city of Mbandaka, a Fund For
Humanity was established within
the framework of the Church of
Christ of Equator Region, and a pro
gram was launched to build 162
houses.
In 1976, 300 more homes were
constructed in the village of
Ntondo, in southern Zaire Fuller re
turned to the U S. in 1976, and
shortly after Habitat For Humanity
Inc. was formed. Fuller was ap
pointed executive director.
The Christian organization pro
vides the initial capital for low m
come people through gifts and no
interest loans —to build or renovate
simple, decent homes
Houses are sold at no profit, with
a no-interest mortgage repaid over a
15 to 25-year period
The house
payments are recycled to build more
houses through a local "Fund For
Humanity."
The Habitat For Humanity, Port
land Project, was established in
198, Since then, the organization
has renovated two older homes and
has built a third one in Northeast
Portland.
One recipient of the Portland pro
ject is Pam Slaughter and her two
children, Jonathan, 3, and Ashley,
2 %. When asked how it felt to own
a house of her own. Slaughter re
plied, " I t ’s very exciting I've been
praying to own a house for myself
and my two children for some time
It's very difficult for a single parent
to find decent housing
Slaughter
and her children will move into their
new home in September
Paul LaRue, volunteer director of
the Portland project, said he got
involved in the program because he
wanted to spend some time doing
something practical to carry out the
teaching of Christ
LaRue. a former pastor at Sunny
side United Methodist Church said
it s up to Christians to help provide
decent houses for God's people in
need
LaRue said at present the
federal government isn't doing all it
ran to provide decent and afford
able homes for the needy.
Not only does Habitat For Huma
nity provide housing throughout the
continental U S and abroad, the
project has made housing available
in the following countries
Zaire,
Haiti Guatemala and Uganda
Audrey Sanders o f H abitat For H u m a n ity / P ortland
Project and Pam Slaughter discuss the program
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by J.erry Garner
African American visual artists
encounter a host of problems in
attempting to sell and promote their
artwork
In an effort to address
these problems, the Visual Arts Om
budsman Project will hold its first
annual "Black Artists' Gathering",
August 29th and 30th, at Portland
Community
College,
Cascade
A forum entitled "Black Artists
Crucified in Portland, Oregon' will
be presented August 29th, from
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., to examine the
shocking state of affairs of African
American visual artists and their art
During the forum, a panel of four
artists will identify special problems
facing African American artists who
are submerged in a culture domina
ted by European based concepts of
beauty, form and ethic.
The forum will attempt to find
solutions in an effort to make visual
arts a viable asset to the African
American community and society in
general by informing practicing ar
tists, educators, parents and sup
porters of their role in changing the
public's perception of African
American visual arts.
On August 30th, from 12 noon to
6 p m., the public will be treated to
an outdoor art exhibit and auction
of valuable and beautiful works of
an by local artists at bargain prices
Admission to both the forum and
the auction is free.
Any African American artist who
has original artwork to sell or dis
play should contact Isaac Shamsud
Din at 284 9065
th a t is m aking Pam s dream of o w n in g a house of
her o w n a rea lity
Photo by R ichard J B ro w n
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