Villanovans Celebrate Habitat for Humanity’s National Week of Advocacy March 22-28

Villanova, Pa., March 17, 2010 – According to a study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 95 million people are currently experiencing housing problems across the United States. These problems range from a lack of affordable rental housing, to foreclosure and even homelessness.

On March 22, Villanova University’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity (VU Habitat) will kick off a week-long fundraising and advocacy campaign, Act! Speak! Build! Week, to call attention to local VU Habitat projects and to influence housing policy at the state level. Act! Speak! Build! Week is part of a national movement among collegiate Habitat for Humanity chapters to provide a platform for increasing awareness, raising funds and encouraging social action.

VU Habitat is among the top five campus chapters of Habitat for Humanity in the country. The chapter also boasts the largest number of student participants in national Habitat for Humanity service trips, also known as the Collegiate Challenge.

From March 22-28, VU Habitat will engage students, faculty and staff in a series of events including a photo-advocacy campaign during which people may donate $5 to pose for a photograph with a Habitat sign to be sent to state legislators. The week will continue with various other advocacy and education events, including a tour of VU Habitat’s service site in Norristown and an Inter-Collegiate Habitat Conference with Habitat representatives from Drexel, Temple, Penn and Cabrini featuring a Habitat home owner as a guest speaker. Last year’s photo-advocacy campaign not only increased awareness but also raised $5,000 to support VU Habitat’s ongoing building projects.

Act! Speak! Build! Week Schedule of Events:

• March 22-26: Photo-advocacy campaign to Pennsylvania legislators as part of a larger effort to demonstrate public support for housing policy change.
• March 25: Tour of VU Habitat’s service site in Norristown.
• March 26: Inter-Collegiate Conference with representatives from Drexel, Temple, Penn and Cabrini featuring a Habitat home owner as a guest speaker.
• March 28: Mass collections to support VU Habitat at St. Thomas of Villanova Church

Act! Speak! Build! Week will conclude March 28 with evening masses for students in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church. All proceeds from the collections made during these services will go towards VU Habitat’s Norristown service site.

For more information about VU Habitat’s Act! Speak! Build! Week or to interview the VU Habitat student organizers, please contact the Media Relations Office.