U.S. Senators Break Ground on Habitat Houses in P.G. County
Capitol Heights, September 27, 2000
Raynard Williams couldn't stop smiling. It was early in the morning, so cold you could see your breath. Every time he turned around there was someone who wanted to shake his hand or take his picture. But he didn't seem to mind. Nine-year old Raynard and his family were going to have a house, and he just couldn't stop smiling.
On Wednesday, September 27, 2000, ground was broken on the U.S. Senators Build. This is the first official build of The Houses the Senate Built project. On March 7, 2001, the entire Senate will gather to frame and raise the walls of two Habitat houses in the Capitol Heights neighborhood, not far from Capitol Hill.
Kent Colton, Chairman of the Steering Committee for The Houses the Senate Built, welcomed everyone and introduced Barbara Ridley who gave the opening prayer. She expressed thanks for the many people who made the day possible and blessed the land, the houses and the families.
Tom Jones, Managing Director of Habitat for Humanity International's Washington Office, indicates that during the March 7th build members of the Senate will work together in the morning to frame the house; after lunch, they will pass their hammers on to their spouses who will work with Senate spouses Tricia Lott and Frank Snellings.
John Wilson, Vice President of Prince George's County Habitat for Humanity affiliate, introduced the homeowner families - the Spencers and the Williams. Ms. Helena Spencer grew up in Capitol Heights and went to church down the street from her new home. Now she and her three sons, Roland (20), Ronell (19), and Lorenzo Lewter (13), will live in the neighborhood where she was born. Ms. Penny Williams and her three boys, Dale (13), Michael (10) and Raynard (9) had just recently learned that they would be Habitat homeowners; the excitement clearly evident on their faces.
Bill Maloni, Sr. Vice President from Fannie Mae, and Clarke Camper, Vice President for Government Relations from Freddie Mac, represented all the Building Partners in congratulating the homeowners and expressing their excitement to be involved in the U.S. Senators Build. Representatives from Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of REALTORS and the Mortgage Bankers Association of America were also present.
Senators Wayne Allard, Sam Brownback and Bob Graham spoke on behalf of their colleagues. Senator Brownback described how the idea of The Houses the Senate Built was born. During a chance meeting at the airport in Katmandu, Nepal, Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, shared his dream of having each member of the Senate build a Habitat house in their home state.
Inspired by his conversation with Millard Fuller, Senator Brownback enlisted the help of Senator Graham, Senator Allard and others. They solicited bipartisan co-sponsorship of Senate Resolution 319 calling on every Senator to build at least one Habitat home in their state by the end of 2001. On June 9, 2000, during National Homeownership Week, the resolution passed unanimously.
The Houses the Senate Built will bring people together from all walks of life for a common purpose: to provide safe, decent housing for more than 100 families around the country. As the honored guests put their ceremonial shovels into the ground on September 27th, the people and organizations present committed themselves to a great endeavor -- giving kids like Raynard Williams a reason to smile.
