Sweet Homes For Alabama kicks off in East Alabama
AUBURN, AL (WSFA) - The Sweet Homes For Alabama, also known as No More Shacks Campaign, kicked off Friday.
The Alabama Rural Ministry estimates Alabama needs 90,000 more affordable housing units than it currently has. This concern over substandard housing in East Alabama is prompting some church leaders to come together in a big way.
On Gay Street, right in front of the Auburn University Wesley Foundation Center, two Shacks will be set up.
Lisa Pierce, the Founder of A.R.M, will be living inside one of the shacks for the next eight days. Pastors and ministry leaders from Lee and Macon counties will be taking shifts in the other shack to help raise $55,000.
In 17 years, ARM has provided home repair assistance to over 600 families in the area. Already, the group says they have 100 families on a list awaiting repairs.
"Our phone rings off the hook everyday with people calling in for home repair assistance so the need is great. When people come by, it is easy to point to if it rains, the roof is going to leak. You can see the windows are open so there is going to be a lot of cold air or hot air depending on what is going on, and it doesn't look safe. This is what a lot of the families we serve go through. The more funds we have the more capacity we have to help more families," said Lisa Pierce, Founder & Exec. Dir. of the Alabama Rural Ministry.
Monday through Wednesday of next week, ARM will also be sponsoring lunch seminars on Auburn's Campus in the Student Center for people to learn more about how poverty is impacting the community.
If you are interested in donating or volunteering with the Alabama Rural Ministry, visit the ARM website.
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