History of Habitat for Humanity
Since its founding in 1976 by Millard
and Linda Fuller,
Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more
than 100,000 houses with families in need, becoming a true world leader
in addressing the issues of poverty housing.
Koinonia Farm and the Fund for Humanity
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was
born at Koinonia Farm,
a small, interracial, Christian farming community founded in 1942
outside of Americus, Ga., by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence
Jordan. The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965, having recently
left a successful business in Montgomery, Ala., and all the trappings
of an affluent lifestyle to begin a new life of Christian service.
At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of "partnership
housing" -- where those in need of adequate shelter would work
side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.
The houses would be built with no profit added and no interest charged.
Building would be financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund's
money would come from the new homeowners' house payments, donations
and no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising
activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build
more houses.
An open letter to the friends of Koinonia Farm told of the new future
for Koinonia:
| What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers
but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable
and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance.
The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for
the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they
have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans
from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want
to provide working capital for the disinherited. . . The fund
will give away no money. It is not a handout. |
In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres
reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated
from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold
to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of
Habitat for Humanity was begun.
Zaire
In 1973, the Fullers decided to apply the Fund for Humanity concept
in developing countries. The Fuller family moved to Mbandaka, Zaire
(now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The Fullers' goal was to
offer affordable yet adequate shelter to 2,000 people. After three years
of hard work to launch a successful house building program, the Fullers
returned to the United States.
Habitat for Humanity International
In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters
to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International
(HFHI) as an organization was born at this meeting. The eight years
that followed, vividly described in Millard Fuller's book, Love
in the Mortar Joints, proved that the vision of a housing ministry
was workable. Faith, hard work and direction set HFHI on its successful
course.
Phenomenal Growth
In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy
Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip,
the Jimmy Carter Work Project,
to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat's ministry brought
the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat's
work across the nation. HFHI experienced a dramatic increase in the
number of new affiliates around the country.
The Results
Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found
new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups
and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant
social problem -- decent housing for all.
Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 100,000 houses, sheltering
more than 500,000 people in some 2,000 communities worldwide.
A Photo Timeline
of Habitat History is also available.
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