Habitat Addresses Housing Crisis with Labor Unions

Habitat for Humanity will address the lack of affordable housing for low-income families with the Building and Construction Trades Department – AFL-CIO and its 15 affiliated trade unions which represent more than three million trades men and women nationwide by launching Labor with Habitat Week.

Labor with Habitat Week is a weeklong celebration, May 16-22, recognizing the partnership between Habitat and the trades unions.

Labor with Habitat Week will focus on resource sharing, trades union sponsorship of Habitat house construction, training of designated skills to Habitat volunteers on construction sites, and so on.

“This partnership provides Habitat for Humanity and the labor unions with an opportunity to significantly impact this country’s housing crisis,” says Millard Fuller, founder and president, Habitat for Humanity International. “We are all very excited about the prospect of sharing resources, skills and knowledge for the purpose of building affordable housing with those who need it most.”

During Labor with Habitat Week, carpenters, electricians, painters, bricklayers and other construction trades union members will not only join Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the nation to work on Habitat houses in their communities but they will also be encouraged to do the same in their own communities.

Edward C. Sullivan, president of the building trades, said, “This year the building trades are focused on defending the American Dream for workers across the nation. Providing shelter for your family and homeownership are vital parts of the American Dream. Union tradesmen and women are proud to assist Habitat for Humanity to make that dream come true for people in need.”