Volunteers Needed: Build 36 new homes for low-income families in California

Want to pick up a hammer and get dirty to help 36 Bay Area low-income families build their new homes?  Sign up to volunteer at OneVietnam Network’s Build Day on Saturday, February 16, in Daly City.  Space is limited to 30 volunteers (no prior construction experience needed).  Reserve your spot now.

Imagine this: You’re the mother of three and living in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s notoriously rough Tenderloin district. Your life isn’t glamorous, but having emigrated from Vietnam, you’re grateful to be living in a country with a decent social welfare and education system for your children. Each day, you work hard, tirelessly, and try to do what’s right for your family.

Admittedly, though, when you settle in with your husband, your two daughters, and son in a tiny shared room each night, a certain wistfulness sets in. You wonder: Will your apartment ever be cleared of the vermin that invades your living quarters each day? How will you keep all three of your kids’ asthma under control when that layer of dust throughout your apartment just won’t seem to clear?

Now here’s the twist. This isn’t just a made-up thought exercise; this is real life. This was every day for Mui Cong Phun, her husband Bau Ly Tran, and their thee kids.

Let’s face it: Inequality in the U.S. has soared higher than ever before. Sometimes, multiple people in the family working earnestly still can’t bring home enough to pull you out of less-than-ideal living conditions.  Average rent for a two-bedroom property in San Francisco is $1,905 per month.  A family would need to make at least $76,000 a year (or $36.63 per hour) to be able to afford rent without spending over one-third of its income on rent. (National Low Income Housing Coalition)

Thankfully, there are nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity to fill in the gaps. It builds affordable home ownerships for low-income families in urban areas across the U.S. Mui and Bau deservedly became first-time homeowners because of Habitat for Humanity and thousands of volunteers.  Sadly, there are many more families like Mui and Bau’s that are having a tough time. Here’s your chance to help families like Mui and Bau.

OneVietnam Network is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity Greater SF to host a Build Day on Saturday, February 16, in Daly City.  Volunteer your time to help build 36 new homes for 36 hard-working low-income families in the Bay Area.  It’s a rewarding daylong event from 8:30AM to 4:15PM.  Come get dirty with us and 30 volunteers. 

Reserve your spot now.  Delicious Vietnamese Banh Mi will be provided for lunch.

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ONEVIETNAM & HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREATER SF — BUILD DAY
Saturday 2/16
8:30AM to 4:15PM

Site Location:
7555 Mission Street
Daly City, CA
(5 minute walk from Colma BART station)

Sign up to volunteer.

More Details

• No prior construction experience required.
• All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
• Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting torn/stained/dirty. Best to leave your jewelry at home. – FYI – we have an area in the volunteer sign in room where you can leave your bags etc.
• Construction Tasks: Insulation, Drywall, Acoustical and Fire sealing of drywall, Siding (some on scaffold), Pick-up framing, Interior paint, Exterior paint (on scaffold), Site clean-up, lawn grading.