Who uses HUD programs? Average, everyday Americans who care for their families and try to do their best every day. Like Harold Ellingson of Casper, Wyoming. Ellingson is a 52 year old single father with a disability. He has lived in his house on South Fenway for the past 14 years. His son Eric attends a local high school and assists his father. Harold worked as a chef at the Casper Petroleum Club, but disability forced him to take an early retirement.

Life got a little easier for Harold and Eric this past month when the faith-based World Changers (WC) made their 6th annual trek to Casper. Over that period they have rehabbed 200 homes in the city of Casper. WC is a program of the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Church that recruits youth volunteers to make repairs and improvements to the homes of low-income elderly and disabled families across the country. One crew put a new roof on Ellingson's house. Then they gave it a fresh coat of paint and added a new sliding glass door to his patio. "It's too bad they have to leave, but I'll think about them every time I look at my "new" house," Ellingson remarked.

It costs an average of $1889 per house for materials. HUD contributes to the project through its Community Development Block Grant funds to the city. Robin Mundell, Housing and Community Development Coordinator of Casper's Community Development Office and the city's coordinator for the WC work in Casper estimates that volunteers have donated about $1.3 million in labor over the past six years. WC volunteers, including adult supervisors, pay $250 each plus transportation costs to participate in this community service project. Centennial Junior High School serves as a dormitory for each of the two groups that spend a week in Casper.

WC and the City of Casper have forged a partnership that epitomizes the President's Faith Based Initiative. Together, they have improved the lives of many homeowners like Harold Ellingson who can now continue to live in safe, comfortable homes as a result of the repairs. In addition, volunteers learn skills and have the rewarding experience of helping others; Casper residents and partners get acquainted with these folks from other states and see first hand the good work they do; the community is expanded when they join forces with neighbors from near and far to improve the place where they live.

On June 25, WC volunteers were recognized by Casper Mayor Kathleen Dixon and HUD Regional Director John Carson at a press conference to celebrate the rehab of their 200th home in Casper. They also were honored June 26 at a mid-week, minor league baseball game where the Casper Rockies played the Ogden Raptors. Casper HUD staff, city officials, and Rockies organization representatives produced "Baseball, Apple Pie, and Homeownership" night where elementary school children in after-school programs were admitted free with a color drawing of a house. Even WC get an afternoon off for fun and they eagerly joined over 1,300 baseball fans to watch the game and stroll among some 30 booths gathering information on homebuying. Mingling with WC volunteers just before the game began, Carson said, "This World Changers program is an outstanding example of what we are trying to do - work more with faith based organizations and increase the national homeownership rate, particularly among minorities." The umpire called "play ball," and Carson threw out the first pitch (above) to officially start the game.