Colorado State University Student Habitat Chapter

Many colleges and universities throughout the United States have set up student Habitat chapters on Campus.  Colorado State University (CSU) has a very active chapter that works in partnership with the Habitat Affiliate to build more homes in our community.   Students meet monthly and plan Habitat-related activities including special build days and fund-raising activities.   

What Is a Campus Chapter?

A campus chapter is a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat affiliate to fulfill the four functions of a campus chapter: Building, Fundraising, Advocating for Affordable Housing, and Educating about the need for affordable housing.

Building

Campus chapters partner with Habitat affiliates to build and rehabilitate homes in partnership with Habitat homeowners. There are many ways in which a campus chapter can get involved with building:

• Working Locally With a Partner Affiliate
• Participating in Collegiate Challenge
• Going on a Global Village Trip 

Fundraising

Campus chapters raise funds to support the work of Habitat for Humanity International and local affiliates. Campus chapters contribute both to their local affiliate and to Habitat for Humanity’s global mission. Chapters may contribute through house sponsorship, the tithe program (donations to a Habitat for Humanity affiliate outside of the United States), general donation to Habitat for Humanity International and Collegiate Challenge Global Village.

Advocating

Campus chapter leaders and members must be advocates for affordable housing. To advocate for affordable housing means to increase awareness of the problem of substandard housing and to call people to action to initiate change.

Campus chapters participate in advocacy events through:

• Statistics campaigns
• Hosting a speaker or panel
• Hosting a "sleep-out" or "shack-a-thon"
• Signature drives
• Letter writing campaigns
• Visiting a community meeting

Act! Speak! Build! Week, World Habitat Day, and other campaigns through HFHI’s Government Relations and Advocacy Department are all available to help chapters advocate for affordable housing.

Educating

Campus chapters educate others on their campus and in local communities about the mission and work of Habitat for Humanity International. This can be done through:

• Hosting a speaker from a Habitat affiliate
• Hosting a speaker from Habitat for Humanity International
• Creating a chapter newsletter
• Creating fliers, fact sheets and brochures
  
  

Partnering With the Affiliate’s Youth Build Program

The CSU Chapter also works in conjunction with the Fort Collins Affiliate’s Youth Build Program that encourages young people to become active volunteers in all aspects of Habitat’s mission.

Click here to learn more about what’s going on at CSU’s Habitat Chapter.