This is a brief follow-on to a story first reported by The Observer, Opelika’s community newspaper. Read their full story for complete coverage.
For the 19th year, Alabama Rural Ministry staff will spend nearly a week living in makeshift shacks to draw attention to the substandard housing some local residents live in every day, The Observer reports. The “No More Shacks: Heal the Home” campaign runs today, Thursday, Oct. 22, through Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Auburn Wesley Foundation.
The goal is $200,000, enough to repair 25 to 40 homes. Roofing is the most common request, followed by wheelchair ramps, water-damaged floors and walk-in showers. ARM mainly helps elderly homeowners, widows and seniors living alone, along with veterans and some single-parent families; projects usually cost $3,000 to $10,000 and are mostly done by volunteers, no construction experience required.
“By living in the shack that has a tarp on the roof, open windows and cracks in the floor, we could model what it’s like to stay in a home that is cold, damp, wet and does not feel safe,” ARM Director Lisa Pierce told The Observer.
Source: The Observer
Opelika Daily News — Thursday Report, Oct. 22, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
