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Richardson Area Interfaith Habitat

Richardson Area Interfaith Habitat (RAIH) is a local area outreach program designed to improve the quality of life for deserving and committed families and to involve area churches and synagogues in that process as an interfaith ministry. RAIH has supported Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity in building new homes or restoring existing homes for individual families with job stability and a desire to own their own home.

In 1991, six Richardson-area congregations met and initiated a covenant to build a house, for a deserving family, partnering with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church was a charter member of this group. The first house was completed and dedicated on November 21, 1993. As of December 2006, RAIH participated in completing a total of 22 houses and future plans are to help complete two houses per year for the next four years.

Presently, RAIH member churches are: All Saints Catholic Church; Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church; Church of Holy Communion Episcopal Church; Community Christian Church; First Christian Church of Richardson; First United Methodist Church of Richardson; King of Glory Lutheran Church; Spring Valley United Methodist Church; St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church; St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church; Unity Church of Dallas.

RAIH raises money for building houses through their annual Richardson Area Interfaith Habitat Walk-A-Thon and from donations from member congregations and business organizations. Volunteers are recruited from member congregations for the nine Saturdays it takes to build a house. The keys to the finished home are then presented to the homeowner at a dedication celebration at the end of the build.

Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, a local affiliate for Habitat for Humanity International, was founded in 1985. Dallas Area Habitat’s mission is to provide a long-term, permanent solution to the need for decent affordable homes for low-income families. Through donated supplies and volunteer efforts, Dallas Area Habitat coordinates the construction and supplies supervision of new homes in neighborhood groups, and the rehabilitation of existing homes.

Dallas Area Habitat receives technical assistance from the international office but must raise its own construction and operating funds for programs. According to Dallas Area Habitat, potential homeowners must: “Have the ability to pay a 0% interest mortgage payment of about $550 per month; be willing, with the help of family and friends, to work 400 hours of sweat equity on the construction of their home or the homes of neighbors; have two years of steady income history; have one year of good rental history; have acceptable credit history; not have owned a home in the past three years; be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; and have the ability to pay for insurance, property tax and escrow”.

Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International