Housing Ministries

People from our church are actively involved in two local ministries which aim to help provide affordable housing to those in need. These are the local chapters of the Fuller Center for Housing and Habitat for Humanity.

Fuller Center for Housing – Central Florida Chapter

In 2008, a local chapter of the Fuller Center for Housing was formed. This is a ministry that was founded by Millard Fuller, who was also the founder of Habitat for Humanity. The mission is “God’s people helping God’s people in need.”

The local chapter of the Fuller Center for Housing is currently focusing on renovation projects where homes are in need of repair. A large number of the people involved are connected with our congregation, and they would welcome others to join them. Largely, they use Saturdays as their work days. If you are interested, you may contact Alan Jewell at ahota416@yahoo.com.
Below you will see some pictures and a description of their latest projects

Millard Fuller Legacy Build - Lanett, Alabama
Agust 30 - September 7, 2009

Fulller Team

The FUMCO Team

Karen and Alan Jewell; Janette and Dutch Anderson; Tom Tanenbaum; Gloria and Ed Lobnitz; Conrad Lobely; Tim Kingsbury; Ralph Lagretta;
Bob Meyland

House Building

House Building

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Ramp instalation and electrical work

James and Barbara Finch. Her osteoporosis is so bad she broke a leg stepping down out of her home. To get in the front door she would have to go by wheelchair to the steps, stand up, turn around and go up the two or three steps backward, then into the wheel chair again. So on their side door we built a ramp. Because the house sits so high the ramp is quite extensive as you will see. The cool part: we thought we were building a "ramp." Barbara calls it her "porch" because she has three flat areas on the ramp where she can stop in her wheelchair to be able to sit outside. She told us if anyone is looking for her that's where she'll be after being cooped up in the house for months. - on her porch. While we were still working on it she was sitting out there knitting. And they have put a chair for James to sit with her out there. We just have to finish up a few more things on the ramp. We also gave them a new shower that she will be able to get into with her wheelchair (still have more work to do on that as well), and they needed a new door leading out to the ramp. And Ed and Gloria have done wonderful things with their knowledge of all things electrical - new outlets (one of their wall units had a plastic bag and tape over it to keep rain off the plug and exterior outlet), a new porch light and I don't even know what else they got accomplished. So they will be safer and hopefully she won't get hurt just leaving her home.

House Before Addition

Ramp Building

Ramp Addition

Habitat for Humanity

Our congregation has also had a long relationship with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Some of our members are team leaders with this ministry. The Orlando chapter of Habitat for Humanity is currently working on a large project called Staghorn Villas, which will eventually be 58 townhome-style condominiums. On their website (www.habitat-orlando.org), you can learn more and view the different opportunities to volunteer. If you are interested in talking with someone from our congregation who works regularly with Habitat, e-mail us at outreach@fumc-orl.org.

For a number of years, we helped sponsor houses, and the pictures below show a home that we helped sponsor in 2006. More recently, we were able to help contribute financially to a six-bedroom home for a large family that was dedicated in 2009.

page updated September 6, 2009
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