Lutheran Housing Support History
Loving our neighbor has been part of our Lutheran heritage since the time of Martin Luther.
Dr. Luther once wrote: “A person does not live for himself alone in this mortal body, as if to work for it alone; he lives for all men on earth; in fact, he lives solely for others and not for himself.”
This heritage blossomed way back in 1864 when Rev. J. F. Buegner encouraged his congregation in St. Louis, Mo., to open our first orphanage. Since then, the LCMS has been involved in housing and mercy work on many levels.
In the last 40 years our church has expanded its housing and community revitalization work through projects like Keys for Christ initiative in 1969 and the East Brooklyn Nehemiah housing and neighborhood revitalization project that was started in the 1980s. The East Brooklyn Nehemiah Project continues to change neighborhoods today.
I am overwhelmed when it comes to speaking about being here and living in a Nehemiah home and just the blessing it has been. ... What a different life it can bring to you when you are in your own home and everyone is focused. Finally, thank God, our own home!
-Termaine Pelzer, East Brooklyn Resident
In 2004 the LCMS set out to make the issue of affordable homeownership for persons of modest means and the revitalization of blighted neighborhoods a priority by creating LCMS National Housing Support Corporation, which functions under the registered trademark of Lutheran Housing Support.
We exist to change shattered communities into neighborhoods with homeowners who help and care for each other.