The Walter H. McClenon
Fund, Inc.
Special Report about
Habitat for Humanity of
Washington, D.C.
April 2008
We have contributed both to Habitat for Humanity, International (in Georgia) and to Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC. PO Box 43565 Washington DC 20010-9998 (Office address 843 Upshur St., NW Washington, DC 20011-5836). The DC organization is something like a franchised operation. The D.C. unit pays an annual fee to the International for the privilege of using the name. (Gifts to the International are unlikely to support work in the DC.)
The DC organization uses thousands of volunteers to build a few houses each year and then it sells them via zero-interest Habitat-financed mortgages to low-income families. The typical house is about 1,200 square feet, with three bedrooms and one bath. The buyers have to contribute at least 300 “sweat equity hours” in the construction. Much of the volunteer labor comes from corporate sponsors who give their employees the memorable experience of being part of a construction crew.
Helping low-income people get the simple dignity of a safe, decent home seems to meet most of the seven qualifying activities listed in our By-laws III D. Habitat does not engage in the disqualifying activities mentioned in By-Laws III F or III G. I believe that the Trustees should find Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC to be eligible and currently nominated from both the General Endowment and the Special Endowment.
29th of April 2008