Youth groups go green during Habitat for Humanity’s Act! Speak! Build! Week
ATLANTA (April 3, 2014) – More than 100 youth groups from across the country will unite April 6-12 in support of improving federal energy assistance programs that aid in the reduction of energy costs for low-income families during Habitat for Humanity’s annual Act! Speak! Build! Week.
During the week, local Habitat affiliates will engage young people between the ages of 5 and 25 through advocacy-related activities tackling green building initiatives, energy conservation and weatherization issues. More than 30 million low-income households in the U.S. lack the necessary weatherization upgrades for sustainability. Habitat’s goal is to empower youths to raise their voices and advocate for better energy-efficient homes that will lift the energy burden for low-income families.
“It’s extremely important for Habitat to engage and interact with today’s youth,” said Mark Andrews, Habitat for Humanity International’s vice president, volunteer and institutional engagement. “Programs like Act! Speak! Build! Week aid in preparing the next generation of leaders by educating them on social issues so they can continue to advocate for decent and affordable housing for all.”
This year, Habitat is asking young people to act in support of the Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act (S.2052). Supporters of the bill can advocate via social media or by contacting their elected officials. Habitat campus chapters and supporters can still advocate by playing host to “Shantytown” events where groups construct shacks and sleep on campus or in a central part of town to demonstrate the need for decent and affordable housing.
Habitat’s Act! Speak! Build! Week is one of the many programs Habitat has geared toward engaging youth ages 5 to 25. Since 2007, State Farm has served as the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs.
For more information on Act! Speak! Build! Week and other Habitat youth programs, please visit www.habitat.org/youthprograms.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.