WASHINGTON - Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) will launch a weeklong celebration, Labor with Habitat Week, May 16-22. The celebration will show appreciation for HFHI's national partnership with the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO and its 15 affiliated trade unions, representing over 3 million tradespeople nationwide. The kickoff event will be held in Cincinnati May 17.

In April 2003, the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding outlining how they would work together to address the lack of affordable housing for low-income families. The HFHI and Building and Construction Trades Department help foster relationships between Habitat for Humanity affiliates and local trades unions. According to HFHI, the partnership offers a number of benefits, including trade union sponsorship on the construction of Habitat houses and designated skills training for Habitat volunteers.

"This partnership provides Habitat for Humanity and the labor unions with an opportunity to significantly impact this country's housing crisis," said Millard Fuller, founder and president of HFHI. "We are all very excited about the prospect of sharing resources, skills, and knowledge for the purpose of building affordable housing for those who need it most."

For further information, visit www.habitat.org.

Publication date: 04/19/2004