Building Homes for Low Income Families – Fuller Center for Housing  Armenia

In 2017 Fuller Center for Housing (FCHA) NGO became one of the official national programs for the Knights of Vartan but the partnership started as early as from 2007. Different otyags and tivans made donations and NS Leo Manuelian with NAD Sona Manuelian have been leading volunteer teams to Armenia to work with FCHA since the inception of the organization.

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA) is a non-governmental charitable organization that supports community development in the Republic of Armenia by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent, and affordable homes as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action.  It is a covenant partner of the Fuller Center for Housing, established in the spring of 2005. After 29 years of unwavering and tireless service to the poor with Habitat for Humanity, Millard Fuller, the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity, was motivated to expand his vision of eliminating substandard housing worldwide.

Homeownership makes a real difference in the families’ lives with the positive impact for generations. By building homes for families in need, FCHA is building a foundation for a better society; thus, building to accomplish its mission, the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia garners volunteer and financial support.

Since the launch of the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA) in 2008, the organization has been able to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing to more than 1000 families.

To become an FCHA beneficiary, prospective homeowners must complete an application. The application first undergoes a paper audit and then a field audit to determine eligibility. To be eligible, a family must own a half-built home/apartment or a home/apartment in need of renovation; have an income that can sustain the family, but that is not enough to allow them to complete construction of the home on their own or to pay off a bank loan; and, as a result of these factors, live in substandard housing (typically, a portion of the uncompleted house, a “domik,” or a borrowed home). FCHA has no shortage of applicants.

In addition to its sweat equity, the beneficiary family is only required to cover the cost of basic materials. All labor is on a voluntary basis. Upon completion and occupation of the house, the cost of materials is converted to an interest-free mortgage (what the Fuller Center calls “the economy of Jesus”), which the family pays in an affordable monthly amount. These funds are then used to purchase materials for other villagers’ homes.

The positive impact of the FCHA program extends beyond the tangible economic and social benefits: It has proven to be 100 percent effective in stemming emigration. Not one family helped by FCHA has emigrated.

From the perspective of the volunteers, this experience allows them to learn about the homeland and enjoy the satisfaction of engaging in a truly Christian experience. It’s a win-win-win situation!

More information on http://fullercenterarmenia.org

The Knights of Vartan and The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia Partnership

Download project reports here:

KV-FCHA – Barseghyan Family 2022-2023

KV-FCHA -Gevorgyan Family 2021-2022

KV-FCHA-Saribekyan Family-2021

DV-Poghosyan-Family-2021

KV – Vahan Lodge – FCHA- Khachatryan – Family – 2020

DV – Otyags – FCHA- Tamazyan Family 2019-2020

DV-FCHA-Ohanyan and Vardanyan Families 2019-2020

KV-NS-Gulekjian-Hovhannisyan Family-2020

KV-Bakradouny Lodge -FCHA home support-Grigoryan Family – 2020

KV-FCHA-Aghajanyan-Gasparyan-2020

KV-FCHA Manasyan Family 2018-2019

KV-FCHA Mkrtchyan Family 2018-2019

KV-FCHA Dzumyan Family 2018

KV-FCHA Khangeldyan Family 2017.pdf

KV-FCHA Taroyan Family 2016.pdf