Housing Project Brings Together Members of All Faiths

Do you have a skill, even one you think is basic? You're needed.

Imagine a place where people of different faiths—Muslim, Jewish, Christian—all work together to achieve a common goal. 

Although it may sound like a utopian dream, it's actually happening, with Habitat for Humanity's "All Faiths House." All hands, any hands, will bring it to fruition.

For the first time ever, Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley is sponsoring this unique, multi-faith project.  Plans for a single-family home, to be built on land donated by the City of Cupertino and seeded with $250,000 of City funds, is one of four new environmentally “green” homes to be built by Habitat volunteers. The home will be built on a vacant lot located on Cleo Avenue near state Highway 85.  Construction will begin in the fall, but the organization is already hard at work planning the project.

The All Faiths House is a new Habitat concept that brings together people of all faiths who volunteer their time and financial support to build a house for a family in need, said Don Varney, the faith relations manager for Habitat.

“Building the house is a great accomplishment in itself,” Varney said. “But even more important are the relationships and friendships that are forged through the faith groups working together.”

Varney said the faith community working together breaks down barriers and builds social capital that can be used for future community activities, as well as problem solving.

The , one of the participating congregations in Habitat’s “All Faith Alliance,” will host a dinner this Saturday, June 4, to explain how interested faith communities and individuals can join in on the Cupertino project. In addition to LAUMC, the Mountain View/Los Altos/Los Altos Hills All Faiths Alliance currently includes 10 congregations, including and St. Simons Catholic Churches, , and the Los Altos Ward of the .

“We intend to have a lot of fun with the ‘All Faiths’ aspect of this Habitat project,” said Leslie Carmichael, member of LAUMC and one of the coordinators of the Mountain View/Los Altos/Los Altos Hills All Faiths Alliance. 

“Each work day will include people from different faith communities working together. We'll have breakfast and lunch together, and hopefully even enjoy some lunchtime musical entertainment from one of the congregations.  It's a great way to appreciate the diversity of our area.”

Faith communities throughout Santa Clara County are working together toward the goal of raising $150,000 to help cover the cost of building supplies, as well as supplying at least half of the volunteers needed to complete the house. 

If you have a skill—all manner of skills—they are needed. Fundraising, preparing and serving meals at the construction site and construction, are all welcomed.

Some came together recently in Morgan Hill on a May 14 work day, including congregants from in Palo Alto, in Mountain View.

At the dinner on June 4, attendees will have the chance to meet members of the other congregations, and learn how they can be a part of the Cupertino All Faiths House project.

The dinner will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Creekside Center at LAUMC, 655 Magdalena Ave. in Los Altos. The cost is $12 per adult and $6 per child. Tickets can be purchased online at http://allfaithsdinner.eventbrite.com.

For more information on the All Faiths Dinner or volunteering, contact Leslie Carmichael at carm-lee@pacbell.net.