Twin Cities Habitat joins Habitat for Humanity International and other human services nonprofit leaders call to: “End family separation policy at border immediately”

Habitat for Humanity International’s CEO Jonathan Reckford today joined a call for an immediate end to the family separation policy being implemented at the U.S. border. Reckford and leaders from other major nonprofit organizations that are members of Leadership 18 are urging the “Trump administration to immediately stop this wrong and immoral policy.”

Statement from Leadership 18’s nonprofit CEOs:
Administration’s zero-tolerance immigration policy harmful to children

WASHINGTON (June 19, 2018) — In a statement from Leadership 18, a coalition of CEOs from some of the nation’s largest and most influential human service nonprofits, nonprofit leaders noted:

“Separating immigrant children from their parents when they come to the border should never be a part of American policy. On behalf of the human services sector, representing more than 5 million staff and volunteers, we call on the Trump administration to immediately stop this wrong and immoral policy, that has resulted in more than 2,000 children being needlessly separated from their parents while their parents are being processed at our borders. Furthermore, we call on the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement to take immediate steps to restore connections between the infants, toddlers and teens who are currently in custody and their family members who are awaiting processing, including regular visitation and communication. The standards of care for these children must be equal to that expected in our current child welfare system, which at a minimum, should include access to a safe environment appropriate for families, age-appropriate services including education, trauma-informed mental and other health services, and family-based legal and immigration counseling. We urge the administration and Congress to immediately put into place the laws, processes and resources that will ensure the health, safety and well-being of children and not be harmful and traumatizing to them, and stand ready to work with them to implement such policies. We must ensure all of our actions are grounded in the humanitarian values we have long held as a nation.”

About Leadership 18

Collectively, the members of Leadership 18 serve 87 million people with more than 5.6 million staff and volunteers. All of our member organizations share a specific mission to improve human development through deep community relationships. Leadership 18 members include the following: Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Catholic Charities USA, City Year, Feeding America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, Goodwill Industries International, Inc., Habitat for Humanity International, The Jewish Federations of North America, Lutheran Services in America, Mental Health America, National Council on Aging, The Salvation Army, United Way Worldwide, Volunteers of America, YMCA of the USA, and YWCA USA.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.      

About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Our mission is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. Twin Cities Habitat is committed to building the quality of life, health, and economic prosperity of the region by producing, preserving, and advocating for affordable homeownership – because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities. Since 1985, more than 1,200 families have partnered with Twin Cities Habitat to achieve homeownership, building stability that multiplies for generations. Twin Cities Habitat is recognized as an Affiliate of Distinction and is one of the highest-regarded Habitat for Humanity affiliates nationwide. www.tchabitat.org.