{"id":14807,"date":"2025-02-04T14:46:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T05:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/?p=14807"},"modified":"2025-02-04T15:02:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T06:02:57","slug":"january-phw-volunteer-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/archive\/14807","title":{"rendered":"January PHW Volunteer Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">Habitat Japan<\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">\u2019<\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">s domestic housing support program, Project HomeWorks<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> (PHW)<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">benefits<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> the elderly, those with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups who may find difficulty <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">maintaining<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> or improving their living conditions on t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">heir own. PHW<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> operates with the help of volunteer<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">s who clean and organize<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> under the supervision of the<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">homeowner and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">additionally <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">provide<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> storage and <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\">bedding<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW69404142 BCX0\"> as necessary.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW69404142 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\">It <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\">feel<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\">s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\"> amazing. Thank you so much.<\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162505208 BCX0\">\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW162505208 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\">The above quotation comes from Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW8388344 BCX0\">san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"> (alias), whom Habitat provided<\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"> <\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\">a complete set of new bedding. Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW8388344 BCX0\">san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"> is in their forties an<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\">d suffers from<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"> a mental illness. Compounded by physical illnesses,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"> Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW8388344 BCX0\">san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"> has trouble cleaning up after himself, often leaving food containers and plastic bottles to pile around their living space leading to unsanitary living conditions.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW8388344 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><div class=\"c-photo\">\n<ul class=\"c-photo-body c-photo-body--row2\">\n<li class=\"c-photo-item\">\n<p class=\"c-photo-item__img\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bed_before-scaled-1-468x336.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-photo-item__cap\"><p>Before<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-photo-item\">\n<p class=\"c-photo-item__img\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bed_after-scaled-1-468x336.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-photo-item__cap\"><p>After<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW8388344 BCX0\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\">Based on these poor conditions, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\">support for Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW152652043 BCX0\">san's<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"> case was confirmed and together with two volunteers we visited their home in December. Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW152652043 BCX0\">san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"> was in a weak state, unable to <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\">stand or even sit up on their own for long without support. <\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\">Volunteers<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"> worked to clear a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"> space<\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"> <\/span><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\">where Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW152652043 BCX0\">san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW152652043 BCX0\"> could lean against the wall to rest as they began working to clean the apartment.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW152652043 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" lang=\"EN-US\" class=\"TextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">First, the bedding laid out in the center of the room <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">was<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> carried out and disposed of<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">, including an old and worn futon<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">, comforter, and blankets<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">. Doing so <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">opened<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> space in the center of the room, from which <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">volunteers <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">advanced, picking up trash, organizing items to keep and sorting items to throw away.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> Volunteers consulted with <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">the homeowner<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> before disposing of each item,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> but doing so could also quickly exhaust <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW18284335 BCX0\">san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> in his state. Keeping careful watch of Matsui-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW18284335 BCX0\">san's<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> energy, volunteers took short<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> b<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\">reaks as they continued<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> thoughtfully<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW18284335 BCX0\"> sorting through belongings.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW18284335 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From here, two of Matsui-san's carers joined, and the now five-person team mopped the floor and<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">set up a new set of donated bedding. Putting the futon, comforter, and pillows in their covers and laying them in the center of the room, Matsui-san<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">laid down on their new bedding for the first time, expressing their comfort and gratitude.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nagaosa-san, leader of Aoyama Gakuin University\u2019s Habitat campus chapter, joined this session and shared<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It was very rewarding seeing the homeowner<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s smiling face at the end of the session. The opportunity mad eme realize that there are still many social issues and challenges that I am unaware of or haven\u2019t seen before.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259,&quot;335559745&quot;:0,&quot;335559746&quot;:0,&quot;335559796&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259,&quot;335559745&quot;:0,&quot;335559746&quot;:0,&quot;335559796&quot;:0}\"><div class=\"c-photo\">\n<ul class=\"c-photo-body c-photo-body--row2\">\n<li class=\"c-photo-item\">\n<p class=\"c-photo-item__img\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/276_20241220-1-scaled-1-468x336.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-photo-item\">\n<p class=\"c-photo-item__img\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/276_20241220-9-scaled-1-468x336.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW97505165 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW97505165 BCX0\">With this session, Habitat Japan\u2019s support of Matsui-san's case has come to an end. Moving forward, Matsui-san<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW97505165 BCX0\"> will work closely with his care workers to continue receiving proper medical treatment, utilize all socialservices available, and to maintain their improved living environment. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW97505165 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW97505165 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><br class=\"SCXW97505165 BCX0\" \/><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW97505165 BCX0\"><\/span><span class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW97505165 BCX0\"><span class=\"SCXW97505165 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><br class=\"SCXW97505165 BCX0\" \/><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"JA-JP\" lang=\"JA-JP\" class=\"TextRun SCXW97505165 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW97505165 BCX0\">Project HomeWorks is made possible with the help of volunteers. To learn how you can join, <a href=\"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/join\/domesticvolunteer\">check here.<\/a><\/span><\/span><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Habitat Japan\u2019s domestic housing support program, Project HomeWorks (PHW), benefits the elderly, those with di [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14810,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activity-reports","category-japan","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14807"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14815,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14807\/revisions\/14815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}