"The way the Jewish commu-
nity sticks together and supports
one another makes it an ideal
environment to encourage suc-
cessful homeownership," says
Ruggles. "We would love to see
more Jewish families in our pipe-

i t t v it t ■ Att e

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Habitat was created
as a Christian organiza-
tion simply because it was
founded by Methodists and
Congregationalists who reached
out to their own churches for
support in their initial projects.
It took about 12 years for that
outreach to grow to include syna-
gogues.
In 1998, the New York Times
featured an article called "A
Youth United involves youth from age 5
Mitzvah Called Habitat for
through 25 in a variety of tasks on build
Humanity" about a Bridgeport,
sites and in building the reach of Habitat
Conn., Habitat build project that
for Humanity of Oakland County.
featured Hebrew blessings rather
than Christian ones.
are excited about the information
Judaism considers both a syna-
and are educating our clients about
gogue and a home as "sanctuary,"
Habitat as a community resource.
and the mitzvah of helping someone
One way we could potentially part-
create their dwelling as a sacred,
ner is we may have clients who have
hands-on way of doing good.
more repairs than are worth making,
Recently, Jewish public policy groups in which case we need to do a total
came together with Christians,
rebuild."
Muslims and Sikhs to ask Congress
Habitat folks also have had con-
to provide $1 billion to the National
versations with the Jewish Fund
Housing Trust Fund. The call for
and the Jewish Federation of
funding was part of the fifth annual
Metropolitan Detroit toward mean-
Fighting Poverty with Faith move-
ingful future collaborations. Ruggles
ment.
could even see the potential for
"Affordable and quality housing
working with individual synagogues
should not be the exception:' said
toward refurbishing or building
Steve Gutow, Jewish Council for
homes for members in need.
Public Affairs president, in a Nov.
"If it's in the right neighborhoods
16 JTA article. "Subsidized hous-
and families met the right criteria, it
ing for low-income people not only
might be an interesting opportunity,"
stabilizes individuals and families,
says Eugene Sherizen, a Huntington
Woods resident and member of
but can also revitalize communities.
Young Israel of Oak Park, who has
Children with a home to return to
met with Ruggles and Korman.
are more likely to succeed in school,
and families are more likely to invest
"Partnering with the Jewish com-
in their neighborhoods."
munity is uncharted terrain that is
ripe for building," says Ruggles. "We
Nationwide, Jewish communities
and congregations have and con-
are encouraged by our initial conver-
tinue to collaborate with Habitat in
sations and look forward to devel-
unique and meaningful ways.
oping these relationships further
In an effort to spearhead this
toward everyone's benefit."
locally, Ruggles met recently with
Michelle Malamis, development
Lynne Meredith Golodner is a writer, pub-
licist and owner of Your People LLC.
associate for Jewish Family Service,
about potential partnerships.
JFS already administers Project
Habitat is actively recruiting
Build!, a collaboration with the
Oakland County schools to
Building Industry Association of
create Habitat Youth United
Southeastern Michigan, to assist JFS
chapters to involve children
clients with home repairs. They've
from very young ages. For infor-
helped 30 homes thus far. Malamis
mation or to get involved with
is encouraged by the possibilities of
Habitat for Humanity Oakland
collaborating with Habitat to help
County, call (248) 338-1843 or
more people.
email info@habitatoakland.org .
"We've appreciated getting togeth-
er and sharing ideas:' she says. "We

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