RVers Travel the Country Building Homes with Habitat For Humanity
The RV Care-A-Vanners Program Enlists Recreation Vehicle Travelers To Help Families Build Homes, While Giving Them A New Destination
Three years ago, Jeff and Laura Walker decided to take a year off and travel the country as part of Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanners program. “Our first build was in Wisconsin in May, 2015, not far from our home,” Laura says. “Since then we’ve traveled to 15 different states, and built 39 houses for 24 different Habitat affiliate groups. We’ve also helped repair 29 homes as part of the Disaster Rebuild Team.”
When we spoke with them, the Walkers were in Sebring, Florida, helping rebuild two homes damaged during the 2017 hurricane season. “From here we’ll go up for a visit to Americus, Georgia, where the program is headquartered, then on to builds in Staunton, Virginia, and Delaware,” she says. “We’re a little like migratory birds… we head south in the winter and north in the summer.”
The Walkers say that Care-A-Vanners typically sign up for two-week assignments in each location, working a 5-day work week. “We have our weekends free to do some sightseeing wherever we are. We find that each place is unique; we love every place we’ve been.”
According to Laura, you don’t need any special skills to become a Care-A-Vanner, just flexibility and willingness to learn. “I’ve done things I’ve never tried before, things I thought would be too hard, like putting up molding,” she says. “But there’s always someone to show you how to do things, how to use tools, how work safely. I’m never scared to try something. You see a lot of ladies using power tools for the first time.”
The Walkers sign up for projects on the Habitat website, where up to a year’s worth of builds are listed, along with the number of volunteers needed, usually between 5 and 20. Locations stretch across the U.S. and into Canada.
According to Hillary Stroud, the spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity International, some 2,000 Care-A-Vanners are currently active. In 2017, they participated in over 230 Habitat builds for nearly 75 Habitat organizations. RVers can especially understand the need for safe, affordable housing, whether they live on the road full-time RVing, or just part-time for an adventure here and there. This is an opportunity to help provide the same for others.
“It’s a unique opportunity for people who are traveling and want to participate in something worthwhile,” Stroud says. “We have all kinds of people: some are retired, some are taking a year off, others are just on vacation." People don’t need any experience to participate. The program has opportunities for people of all skill levels. Some people decide to work in the office, or one of the Habitat's ReStores. These are home improvement stores independently owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. Proceeds go to building strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter in local communities and around the world.
Founded in 1989, as an offshoot of the Habitat for Humanity program that has been building houses around the world since 1976, the Care-A-Vanner program has grown through the years, but remains an all-volunteer force. “Jack Wolters, who worked with Habitat founder Millard Fuller in Americus, came up the idea with his wife,” Hillary says. “Their first builds were in Florida and Ohio.”
Local Habitat affiliates plan the builds and provide materials and tools. They also arrange for the volunteers to hook up their RVs and trailers at a nearby campground, often for free, or for a reduced price. Volunteers pay for their own travel costs, and are encouraged to bring a hammer and other simple tools.
Staying at the same campground keeps the volunteers on the build close, and leads to lots of social time after work. The Walters say the many people they have met as Care-A-Vanners is one of the best aspects of the program. “We have met people from all over,” Laura says. “On this build, we have a couple from Switzerland here on vacation, who rented an RV to participate, and a couple from Ontario, Canada. We meet people of all ages, too, from teens to people well into their 80s.”
They also meet and work closely with the families who will occupy the houses when the work is complete. “It’s an inspiration,” Laura says. “That’s what keeps up volunteering.” The Habitat program is not a giveaway, but works with homeowners to make housing affordable.
Laura and Jeff Walker, both in their 50s, expect to keep Care-A-Vanning into the foreseeable future. “We sold our house in Michigan last May,” Laura laughs, “and we’re three years into our one year experiment. But, you know, we both worked for 25 years on our careers, and have nothing to show for it. In the past three years, I can show you 39 homes we built. It gives you a real feeling of accomplishment.”
Renee Wright
A graduate of Franconia College in Social Psychology, Renee has worked as Travel Editor for Charlotte Magazine and has written three travel guidebooks for Countryman Press among other writing assignments. She enjoys food and camping.
Make Sure To Check Out:
Care-A-Vanners, which is a volunteer program that invites anyone who travels by recreational vehicle, including motor home, fifth wheel or travel trailer, to make Habitat For Humanity part of their journey, or even destination.