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.