Saint Brendan Anglican Church
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Hands on Housing Project - April 26
By frjeff | March 10, 2008
On April 26, the members of St. Brendan’s will minister to the needy by our participation in the renovation of another home here in greater Austin.
Smaller mission parishes have something in common, and that something is often a feeling of not being big enough, not having enough resources to make a difference in ministry to a community. We have found a way to overcome that sense (or excuse) of being too small to make a difference.
In Austin, the Hands on Housing ministry is overseen by Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. Hands on Housing is dedicated to providing essential volunteer-based home repair services to the marginalized in our society - the elderly, the poor, the disadvantaged, the disabled. This ministry is the largest volunteer home repair effort in Austin. We repair and revitalize homes for homeowners that cannot afford to do needed repairs and thus enable them to remain in their own homes.
The typical client served is over 70 years old living on less than $10,000 per year in a home he/she owns and loves but cannot maintain. The clients are often approached to sell their homes but they do not want to leave the home they love and have lived in for often well over 20 years. Our repair efforts enable them to remain in their homes in safety and dignity.
While making such repairs, we help build relationships across social and geographic boundaries. Working with others, we help our neighbors in need. It is wonderfully satisfying to be united with other faith communities to foster respect, partnership and transformation in service of the common good. We, the small, are called to be, and can be instruments of His transforming love.
