Committee Work

Family Selection
This committee takes on the task of selecting the partner families that will become partners with Lawrence Habitat. Public meetings are held and applications accepted approximately twice per year.Subsequently, the members of the committee collect confidential information, make home visits, and determine whether the applicants are qualified.

Family Support
Standing by, guiding, and training the homeowner families is the privilege of this committee.
The Family Partners are one means of support. The committee assigns an individual or couple to travel with the partner family through the process of preparing for and building their own home. Before Family Partners begin, the committee provides thorough training in Habitat policies and procedures.
During the process, the Family Partners stay in close contact, first as a friend and advisor, but also as a link between the organization and the family.
The committee also plays an important role in interpreting policies to the board from a homeowner's point of view.

Construction
The Construction Committee supports the construction effort. Members of the committee include people familiar with residential construction, architects, and current or retired construction professionals.

Site Selection
This committee addresses the very substantial problems of finding construction sites. In Lawrence, the is among the most formidable of problems, finding sites for low-cost housing. Both sites that are ready for construction and land requiring development are candidates.

Finance
Building up to six houses per year requires very careful attention to the details of managing a large budget. This committee oversees that budget, including all dispersements and income. Each member, including the treasurer of the affiliate, is committed to working regularly to keep records up-to-date and to keeping the board informed regarding the financial status of the affiliate.

Fund-Development
Obviously an endeavor of the magnitude of Lawrence Habitat's mission requires a substantial and continuous influx of funds.
The Fund-Raising Committee works with the Executive Director to raise funds through a variety of means: pledges from individuals, church support, corporate gifts, grants, bequests, and special events provide most of the operating capital.

Communications
The most obvious functions of the Communications Committee are the Habitat-Builder newsletter, published four times per year, and the web site. There are many other tasks required to to spread the word about Habitat; they are called on for the development of other materials: brochures, displays, etc. The committee can use volunteers with skills in graphic arts, journalism, photography, and more.

Faith Relations
Over a dozen churches are found on the Habitat Covenant Church roster and have been the bedrock of Lawrence Habitat's support.
The primary function of the Church Relations committee is communication with supportive communities of faith. Churches respond with prayer support, including the Day of Pray in September, and with volunteer support and financial support.
One of the high points in the Covenant Church history was in 1998 when the churches joined together to fund and construct a house. The project was called "Building on Faith." Since then, the three Lutheran Churches in Lawrence have fully sponsored two houses; Plymouth Congregational Church was a substantial sponsor; First Presbyterian Church fully sponsored a house. The Faith Relations Committee is now “Building on Faith” every other year with the help of more than 15 churches.