Special to the Journal

The North Carolina Council of Churches and Habitat for Humanity International have entered into a rural housing campaign to build 100 homes over the next three years. The effort, called FaithWorks, will provide seed money for local rural churches to build in their communities.

In a recent meeting with religious leaders and housing advocates from across the state, Habitat founder Millard Fuller said the program stands to place North Carolina in a leadership role in the area of eliminating substandard housing in rural areas.

"Your bold action as the Christian community in this state is going to make a difference," said Fuller. "We will be good partners."

By bringing together the forces of their two organizations, the Council and Habitat hope to raise $1 million to seed FaithWorks, with local Habitat affiliates and congregations raising the balance of funds (about $30,000 per house) and providing the volunteers.

FaithWorks builds on the momentum of the many faith-based organizations that have helped families who lost their homes to floods in Eastern North Carolina.

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