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Bike & Building Awareness for Affordable Housing

Have you ever considered riding a bicycle across the United States?

While the thought may have never crossed your mind, more than 300 individuals this summer are participating in a cross-country cycling trip with Bike & Build—a 501(c)3 independent nonprofit organization pedaling to end poverty housing.

Bike & Build works with young adults (typically, ages ranging from 18-25) to produce cross-country and regional cycling trips, and distribute the funds raised to affordable housing organizations that are committed to projects that engage youth in community action.

In 2009, Bike & Build has produced eight summer cycling events: Providence to San Francisco, Providence to Seattle, North Carolina to San Diego, Boston to Santa Barbara, South Carolina to Santa Cruz, Southern United States, Central United States, and Northern United States.

After a two-day orientation in Providence, Rhode Island, on June 3 as well as a build day with Providence Habitat, more than 30 riders departed from the hills of New England (through Connecticut and New York) to begin their journey across the United States.

With volunteer stops in Maryland and Pennsylvania in their rearview mirrors, the cyclists rode through the rolling plains of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky before arriving in Illinois at the end of June.  Nearly 1500 miles were logged (including a 91-mile day to get into town) as the group arrived in Springfield to rest up at Westminster Presbyterian Church before volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County on June 30.

Though Bike & Build has no formal affiliation with Habitat for Humanity International or any other organization, Bike & Build supports a variety of affordable housing organizations by helping raise funds and awareness of housing needs throughout the country.

While working with Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, the volunteer group of 32 cyclists helped hang drywall and backfill the lot of House #79 for future homeowner Marcia Knox-Martinez and her family.

When asked about the source of motivation for these committed cyclists, route leader Sonya Hirsch explained, “We do have quite a cast of characters in this group.  I think it takes a certain kind of person willing to put yourself through such a physical challenge for a cause.”

In order to participate in a Bike & Build event, each cyclist must raise a minimum of $4,000 in donations—which can be achieved in a variety of innovative ways.  To date, the Providence to San Francisco group has raised a total of more than $156,000 for affordable housing organizations.  As a result of this volunteer work day in Springfield, Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County is eligible to receive funds from Bike & Build’s competitive grant program.

By disbursing funds to organizations dedicated to mobilizing young adults, Bike & Build hopes to provide more even opportunities for youth to become advocates for affordable housing.  Since being founded in 2002 by Marc Bush, this program has contributed more than $1.6 million of rider-raised money to affordable housing organizations.

After volunteering in Springfield, the Providence to San Francisco group left for the fields of Kansas and Nebraska before trekking through the mountains of Colorado and into Utah at the end of July.  This group’s cross-country trip will ultimately culminate with a final ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in California on August 13.

Now in its seventh year of producing summer cycling trips, Bike & Build continues to raise awareness about the affordable housing crisis during each and every mile of their journey across America.

Make it Happen! If this story stirs up an idea of how you can get a group involved in a Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County build…please, TELL US! The sky is the limit when it comes to helping out with Habitat. So ACT! HELP! BUILD!