The Fuller Center for Housing of The Community Mission

The Fuller Center for Housing of The Community Mission is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide. We believe everyone deserves a simple, decent, and affordable place to live and strive to make that possible through the formation of community partnerships in the U.S. and all over the world.

Our History

Millard Fuller was an ambitious and driven business man. By age 29 he was a millionaire. But in 1965, his life took a dramatic turn when his wife, Linda, told him she was leaving him. Together, they resolved to save their marriage, give away their fortune, and focus their lives toward God’s work with a renewed sense of purpose. This led them to creating Habitat for Humanity in 1976. In 2005, the Fullers started over and launched The Fuller Center for Housing which is currently building and renovating homes in 16 countries and over 55 communities in the United States.

Our Mission

The United Nations estimates that more than one billion people around the world live in substandard housing — including millions in the United States. The Fuller Center for Housing, faith-driven and Christ-centered, promotes collaborative and innovative partnerships with individuals and organizations in an unrelenting quest to provide adequate shelter for all people in need worldwide.

Our Values

“I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need.” – Millard Fuller

We believe a house is a foundation stone on which human development occurs. Having a decent place to live dramatically improves the quality of life for those living there. This is why we are trying to use what God has given us to go out and help families have a safe and healthy place to call home.

The Fuller Center for Housing of The Community Mission

What We Do

The Fuller Center creates partnerships within communities that bring together churches, schools, businesses and civic organizations to build decent, affordable homes in partnership with people who are unable to secure adequate housing by conventional means. The Fuller Center works in collaboration with our covenant partners, other service-oriented organizations and countless volunteers to build and repair homes. All homeowners work hand-in-hand with volunteers to build their own homes, which are then sold to them on terms they can afford, based on the Biblical idea of no-profit, no-interest loans.

Through our U.S. Builders and Global Builders programs, we have many opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved with our work. We currently send teams to 11 different countries where you’ll have the opportunity to spend 1-2 weeks working on homes and getting to know the local culture. We also have 9 communities in the U.S. where groups can spend a week building and renovating a home. No construction skills are necessary. Visit our website to learn more about all our opportunities.

www.fullercenter.org

Those interested in home ownership are invited to visit our center office, 336 N. Front St. Minersville, PA daily from 9am to 3pm-by appointment to view information and learn about the organization, income guidelines and the process leading to home ownership.

Our group is always looking for volunteers. Anyone who has construction or administrative skills is invited to help. Board members are also needed.

For more information, call the office at 570-617-4620.

Building a better world together

The Fuller Center for Housing is not a church, but a servant of the church. Here are some ways we can work together:

PRAY FOR US: We are enthusiastically and unashamedly Christian. Your prayers for our work are needed and appreciated.

LET'S GET TOGETHER: We'd love to share our success stories and our history with groups, classes or your entire congregation. When people learn about our uplifting ministry, they tend to like it.

VOLUNTEER LOCALLY: Time and time again we've seen churches strengthened and grow when they volunteer with us. Something as simple as building a wheelchair ramp can change someone's life, while building an entire home truly gives a congregation something to rally behind.

TAKE A GLOBAL BUILDERS TRIP: God loves the whole world, and we can help you share that love around the globe. We work in 18 different countries, 10 of which are actively seeking groups like yours to come and partner with families in need. You'll see the world in a whole new light while immersing yourself in unique cultures off the beaten tourist paths.

BECOME A U.S. BUILDER: If the thought of international travel seems a little too daunting, we have dozens of covenant partners coast to coast in the United States who could use your help.

HOST VOLUNTEER TEAMS: If your local covenant partner hosts a U.S. Builder team or other groups of volunteers, they could use facilities where they can set up cots for the week. A church gym with showers or unused classrooms would be fantastic. It's also a fun way to meet new people and share your church's story.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Whether it's through directly budgeted support or special fundraisers, your gifts not only help families build and repair homes, but the money also is recycled to help others have simple, decent homes.

FIND PARTNER FAMILIES: Perhaps there is a member of your church whose family would be a candidate for repairs or a new home. Or maybe you have run across such a family during your mission work in the community. Family selection is an important part of our ministry.

BE A FRIEND & SHARE OUR STORY:

Those interested in home ownership are invited to visit our office, 40 W. Oak St in Shenandoah daily -by appointment to view information and learn about the organization, income guidelines and the process leading to home ownership and our Housing First Programs.

Our group is always looking for volunteers. Anyone who has construction or administrative skills is invited to help. Board members are also needed.

For more information, call the office at 570-617-4620.

Link to our website

fullercenter.org/fuller-center-for-housing-of-the-community-mission/

The Fuller Center for Housing of The Community Mission is moving forward in Schuylkill County in helping people to both renovate and buy homes.

News & Updates...

INTRODUCING ...HOUSING FIRST

What is Housing First?

Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life. This approach is guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to anything less critical, such as getting a job, budgeting properly, or attending to substance use issues.

Additionally, Housing First is based on the theory that client choice is valuable in housing selection and supportive service participation, and that exercising that choice is likely to make a client more successful in remaining housed and improving their life.

How is Housing First different from other approaches?

Housing First does not require people experiencing homelessness to address the all of their problems including behavioral health problems, or to graduate through a series of services programs before they can access housing. Housing First does not mandate participation in services either before obtaining housing or in order to retain housing.

The Housing First approach views housing as the foundation for life improvement and enables access to permanent housing without prerequisites or conditions beyond those of a typical renter. Supportive services are offered to support people with housing stability and individual well-being, but participation is not required as services have been found to be more effective when a person chooses to engage.ii Other approaches do make such requirements in order for a person to obtain and retain housing.

Who can be helped by Housing First?

A Housing First approach can benefit both homeless families and individuals with any degree of service needs. The flexible and responsive nature of a Housing First approach allows it to be tailored to help anyone. As such, a Housing First approach can be applied to help end homelessness for a household who became homeless due to a temporary personal or financial crisis and has limited service needs, only needing help accessing and securing permanent housing.

HOW WILL WE DO THIS?

Our trained and caring staff will:

* Listen

*Assess

*Plan

*Implement