BY BEN HEIMSATH

A congregation member recently asked what part of the architecture process gives me the most satisfaction. It only took a moment to think about my answer. “The dedication,” I responded, “it’s at the end, when everyone is gathered in the completed space. Up to that point, we’ve only imagined it.”

Through my career as an architect, I’ve come to appreciate this deeply gratifying aspect of the building industry. Nearly everyone involved in construction has the satisfaction of knowing that when the job is done, someone will live, work, shop, play or worship in the places we helped to create. And that place — our work — will continue to have an impact on people’s lives for years and years.

When a project is completed for a neighbor in need, those involved experience something even more incredible. You might consider it to be an act of kindness or charity. Our religious traditions might use terms such as: “works of mercy,” “zakat,” “mitzvah,” or “dana.” These all describe a fundamental connection, both deeply human and deeply spiritual, that takes place when someone acts selflessly to help someone else.

When Hands on Housing began nearly three decades ago, it brought congregations, volunteers, builders and other professionals together to help repair homes for people in need. In Austin, thousands of residents own their own home, yet they live in deplorable, sometimes perilous, conditions. Many have worked all their lives, but are now elderly or infirmed and need help. They have broken windows and doors, or leaking roofs. They might struggle up stairs or over porches that are broken or decayed.

A year ago, that was Helen Griffin’s reality. Working as a cook at Brackenridge Hospital for more than 30 years, she developed health problems and could only work part time. Making repairs or adapting her home to make it more accessible was out of the question. Yet her back porch was rotting, the roof leaked and her bathroom was run-down and inaccessible. “I hated to go in there,” she told me recently, “it was so bad.”

The Hands on Housing program arranged for professionals to repair the roof, rebuild a new backyard deck, and completely redo the bathroom with a new accessible tub, and a new sink and toilet. Griffin is so grateful, and she adds, “now I have no problem having company over.”

Volunteers arrived to help with repairs, painting and landscaping. “There were older members and kids, and everyone was sweeping and scraping. They were so pleasant and helpful. They asked me to stay inside while they worked, so I’d be surprised when they were done.” At the end, she describes her reaction, “It was amazing!”

What she saw was a new coat of paint for the entire house, and newly painted white trim. The volunteers had repaired rotted wood and fascia boards. They put in new plants and spruced up the yard. Griffin says proudly that her neighbors now say she’s got the nicest home on the block. “And I agree with them, I do!”

Hands on Housing is just one of many programs that will be supported if Austin’s Affordable Housing Bonds are approved. The projects they help fund have a lasting impact on people’s lives. For anyone of us who volunteer, or contribute, or work on these projects, something very special happens. We experience both the emotional satisfaction of seeing a job well done, and a deeper, spiritual experience in providing for someone in need. Griffin summed it up herself, speaking for all who contributed to her home, “It truly was a blessing!”