The Fuller Center will begin building simple, decent homes as soon as possible, breaking ground as soon as emergency teams have completed their missions. Working with other organizations to secure buildable land, the Fuller Center plans to erect small earthquake resistant homes for less than $4,000 each.

As with the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the Fuller Center will forward donations to where they are most needed: exclusively for Haitian homes. The center will also be organizing volunteer work teams to construct the homes.

David Snell, president of the international home building organization released a statement saying, “The Fuller Center is not a disaster-relief organization, but we have a very important role to play in the longer-term response to this crisis. We build houses – simple, decent homes that provide a safe, secure place for families to live in. We expect to be heavily involved in Haiti, once the situation there stabilizes and reconstruction work can begin.”

He concluded his statement with a call for help: “It’s the basic nature of charitable work that we seem to always have our hand out, asking for support,” Snell said. “But the good work we do wouldn’t be possible without that support. We believe the Haiti earthquake is a special call to people of good will. We do appreciate your generous support.”

To contribute to the Fuller Center Haiti fund, please send a check to The Fuller Center for Housing, PO Box 523, Americus, Georgia 31709 and include a note that specifies the donation for Haiti. Or you may donate online at www.fullercenter.org.

About The Fuller Center for Housing

The Fuller Center for Housing is a non-profit 501c3 international Christian home building organization based in Americus, Georgia USA. The Fuller Center — created in 2005 by Habitat for Humanity founders Millard and Linda Fuller — partners with churches, schools, businesses and civic organizations to build decent, affordable homes worldwide for people who are unable to secure adequate housing by conventional means.

The executive director of FCNWLA says he “learned a lot” during the Legacy Build and is ready to build two or three houses in March. To build three he needs $210,000.

He is also beginning to lay the foundation for building in other areas of town. He said, “There are people who need homes; there is property available.”

Jeter also wants organizations in those communities to step up and help through donations and volunteering.

In addition to building new houses, Jeter wants to expand the Greater Blessing repair and renovation program.

The program helps people who are homeowners get the repairs they may need but cannot afford.

A new endeavor in coming months will be involvement in lead abatement in houses built before 1978, especially those houses with minor children. Jeter said he had previously obtained a pamphlet
on lead poisoning so workers could be safe while doing rehab work. “I didn’t know it would become a focus area,” he said.

In the meantime, the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Services asked the center to get involved in solving the problem of lead poisoning. “First, I’m getting educated about lead poisoning,”
Jeter said. “Then I’ll pursue grant opportunities to address this issue.”

Jeter told of a client who may lose custody of a 4- year-old grandchild if they can’t address the problem. The client is disabled and on fixed income; moving is out of the question. “We need to step in and help them,” he said.

The Act of Donation ceremony took place at the Clay Street office of the center with refreshments following.

Chesapeake spokesman Kevin McCotter made the presentation.

Jeter said that having the truck will reduce “wear and tear” on the personal vehicles of the center’s staff.

He also noted that the truck will allow the center to accept more donations. Additionally, staff will be able to bring materials to work sites from storage bins without making multiple trips.

The FCNWLA wants to acquire two trailers, one closed and one open, Jeter said. The Silverado will enable employees to pull heavy trailer loads.

“It tells the story of our neighborhood,” said Averil Miles, executive director.

The number 40 is significant because its the end of a period of trials and of being tested, he said. The house is symbolic to the organization’s testing period.

The house will be constructed on Alston Street, around the corner from the organization’s offices. Miles estimates the house could be built in February or March.

“The goal is to be prepared to have the house up around Easter.”

So the organization is looking for time and monetary donations to help construct the house. The goal is to partner with 40 local churches to help make it happen.

Miles also hopes more business and corporate sponsors step forward, as well as individual donors and volunteers. “We want to grow a constituency and the amount of volunteers. Maybe this campaign is made of a bunch of small contributions (rather) than a larger contribution.”

The Fuller Center was founded in the area in 2005 after hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Louisiana coastline. Founder Millard Fuller pledged to build about 60 dwellings for low-income residents and those the storms left homeless.

The local affiliate struck out on its own in November 2007 and organized a housing blitz. Last year, nine homes were built and were sold with no-interest mortgages to low-income families.

As The Fuller Center began planning to construct its 40th house, it came across one large stumbling block “” the economy. Already tight belts are tighter as the holidays approach.

But on the road toward the 40th house, the center’s staff has learned perseverance, an important trait that will need to executed, Miles said.

“We know that target audience, but this is a season for giving. You’ll always see a reward with a project like this.”

The reward, Miles said, can be seen in how family dynamics change.

Felicia Sewell, a 39-year-old recipient of a Fuller house, spent 11 years in the Army before leaving the service. For her, motherhood was too strong of a draw.

“At some point when you have a child, you do what best for your children,” said Sewell, who now has six children ages 4 to 19. “But I had a career.”

That was seven years and several apartment moves ago. Now Sewell and five of her children live in a home, giving them a sense of stability they never had before.

“They get to grow up in a house they can call their own,” Sewell said. “They don’t have to worry about whether we’re moving. When my kids are 25, they’ll be able to say let’s go to mom’s house.”

© Icess Fernandez/Shreveport-Times

ifernandez@gannett.com