[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 25777-25778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, 13 years ago, Habitat for Humanity 
International, HFHI, decided to expand its services to include projects 
in my State. Today, I would like to congratulate HFHI's 14 South Dakota 
affiliates on the occasion of the 200th Habitat home constructed in 
South Dakota since 1990. I believe I speak for all South Dakotans when 
I say that their services have been invaluable to many families in our 
State.
  The lack of affordable housing for the lowest income households is a 
serious problem across the country. According to the 2003 State of the 
Nation's Housing report issued by the Joint Center for Housing Studies 
of Harvard University, three in 10 U.S. households have housing 
affordability problems. More than 14 million households spend more than 
half of their income for housing, and 75 percent of them are in the 
bottom 20 percent of the population by income.
  Having to pay a disproportionate share of income for housing 
frequently leads to other problems and tensions for many families. Too 
often, the available housing is substandard, and overcrowded. Many of 
these families live on the edge, financially, and live in fear of 
eviction or foreclosure. Families may have to sacrifice spending for 
other basics, including food and utilities. Children in these families 
also tend to pay a price. They suffer when their parents have to work 
two or more jobs, or odd hours, sacrificing family time. Unstable 
housing arrangements and frequent moves can also interfere with a 
child's ability to succeed in school.
  Habitat for Humanity recognizes that when communities come together, 
they can help solve this problem, one family at a time. Their 
accomplishments would not be possible without the thousands of 
volunteers who help support a struggling family, and provide them with 
the opportunity to turn a Habitat house into their very own home. 
Volunteers from across South Dakota have donated thousands of hours of 
hard labor to give 200 families a shot at the American dream.
  I would like to take a moment to thank Pat Helgeland, the Executive 
Director of Habitat for Humanity in South Dakota, and everyone 
associated with South Dakota's affiliates for their solid commitment 
and hard work. They are truly making an important difference in the 
lives of their partner families.
  Every time I visit with Habitat volunteers, I am impressed by their 
energy and spirit as they raise funds, select a site, select a partner 
family, and build the house. I was pleased to sponsor a house in 
Brookings, SD, that will now become a home for a mother and her three 
children.
  I am also encouraged to know that Habitat for Humanity is engaged in 
a

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similar effort at the international level. From Thailand to Zimbabwe to 
Peru, its services provide exciting opportunities for home ownership. 
We should be proud, for example, that HFHI played a key role in 
providing tools and materials needed to rebuild or repair family homes 
damaged by years of conflict in Afghanistan.
  So today I wish to extend my congratulations and thanks to all those 
who helped build 200 new houses in South Dakota, as well as those who 
are involved in bringing this important model to communities across the 
globe. Their efforts are truly inspirational.

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