What will you build??

My favorite response thus far…“WALKABLE STREETS.” There are so many good answers to this question, and I am very excited to find out what local Austinites have to say.  Tomorrow I will be taking Habitat for Humanity International’s World Habitat Day photo campaign to five on-going construction sites of Austin Habitat for Humanity.

The World Habitat Day Photo Wall is a global petition to demonstrate the support of adequate housing for all as a legislative priority. This year, HFHI hopes to collect more than 3,000 photos from Habitat supporters all around the world.

As a new member of the Volunteer Services department of Austin Habitat, I am syked to have the opportunity to work with so many dedicated volunteers and to spread the message of World Habitat Day over the next few weeks. So…

What is World Habitat Day?

• What? World Habitat Day is a day for grassroots action, a time for people to unite against substandard housing worldwide.

• When? Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. The first Monday in October was designated World Habitat Day by the U.N. General Assembly in 1985.

• Why? Families face a daily struggle for mere survival. Substandard dwellings leave people vulnerable to disease, crime, malnutrition and natural disasters.World Habitat Day calls attention to the tremendous need for decent, affordable housing all over the world. It recognizes the basic need all human beings have for adequate shelter.

• How many? One billion people, one-sixth of the world’s population, live in deplorable conditions in dilapidated slums and shantytowns. By 2030, that number is expected to rise to 2 billion.

• Who? You. World Habitat Day reminds people everywhere of our collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

(This is a nice little excerpt from the official World Habitat Day brochure which has loads of great information if you want to know more about this U.N. holiday)

Want to do your part?? Take action now! Also, whip out that new digital cam and submit your own photo today!

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