|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||
 |
|
 |
||||
| LINGK: In many of the major cities across the country, because of the rising cost of living and other issues, there has been a major dislocation of both the poor and middle-class. How is Habitat addressing this issue in urban areas? RAINEY: We are looking at how we can fix neighborhoods that have existed as working class neighborhoods. The changes in today's economy have put tremendous pressure on neighborhoods that have been traditional working class or have come to be working class through demographic change. It has become very easy for an investor to come in and buy up a neighborhood like that and put up condos and eliminate the poor and working class folks in those neighborhoods. Part of what Habitat does in its own ministry and in joining hands with others, is to first advocate to save those areas and second to build housing that preserves those neighborhoods, allowing the people to have affordable, decent housing that is close to their jobs. Habitat International, where I work is putting together a fund that can help affiliates who recognize land opportunities, to go in and acquire land or buildings. We've done some tremendous work in Baltimore and its surrounding areas as well as New York's inner-city. LINGK: What's President Carter's relationship to Habitat. Many believe that he actually started the organization? RAINEY: Former President and Mrs. Carter are our best known volunteers. They got involved with Habitat back in 1984. Without them, I doubt that we would be having this conversation today. A lot of people don't know this, but once a year for one week, President and Mrs. Carter go out, no matter what the weather and put their true sweat equity, into what they talk about for Habitat. They work very hard, in fact, no one better be caught loafing on a Carter work site, because you'll hear from him. They really put there faith into action. They pick up their hammers and go to work. They work as hard, or even harder than anybody else on the site. Continues on page 4 |
||||
 |
||||