Habitat for Humanity International
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Habitat for Humanity International (also "Habitat for Humanity", or just "Habitat") is an international, ecumenical Christian, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing. Homes are built using volunteer labor and are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. The organization was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Millard and Linda Fuller, whose vision grew out of their experiences at Koinonia Farm. The international headquarters located in Americus serves to support and promote the activities of local, independent affiliate chapters, who initiate and manage all construction, mortages, and homeowner selection.
By 2004 Habitat had built 50,000 houses in the U.S. and over 175,000 around the world, with Habitat groups working in over 100 countries. Although headquartered in the United States, two thirds of Habitat construction takes place around the rest of the world. It is predicted that Habitat for Humanity International will have built housing for one million people by 2005.
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Qualifications for Home Ownership
According to the official website, "Homeowner families are chosen according to their need; their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage; and their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat. Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate according to race, religion or ethnic group." Homeowners are usually expected to put approximately 500 hours of "sweat equity" into their own or other project homes.
Mortage payments from homeowners are deposited into a locally-administered "Fund for Humanity", the proceeds of which go towards future construction.
Building
Habitat builds simple houses with locally appropriate materials. This could mean concrete block homes in Third World nations, or poured concrete-walled homes in hurricane-prone regions of the United States. Chapters of Habitat in more developed countries are strongly encouraged to donate a tithe of ten percent of the money they raise for local housing to the national group for the purpose of building Third World homes. For instance, Habitat New Zealand builds one house in Fiji for each house they build in New Zealand.
Volunteers
Habitat relies on volunteer labor in order to construct simple and affordable homes for its partner families, as well as to build community and civil society in the areas in which it works. Most volunteers are unskilled prior to first working with Habitat, although some professional or retired tradesmen or contractors may donate their services. Many churches sponsor houses and provide a large amount of the volunteers from their congregations. In an act of corporate social responsibility, some corporations provide financial support to the project or donate materials for use in construction.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984 and has since become its most high-profile proponent. He has been involved in fund-raising and publicity as well as actual home-building, taking part in the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project "blitz build".
Programs
Habitat for Humanity also runs a year-round alternative break program known as Collegiate Challenge for student groups aged 16 and up. Allthough summer, fall, and winter break trips are available, most participants (primarily college students) go during their spring break. Collegiate Challenge volunteers travel to affiliates throughout the U.S. and participate in week-long build activities at their host's work sites. Over 12,000 volunteers took part in Collegiate Challenge in 2004, making it one of the world's largest alternative break programs; since its inception in 1989, over 100,000 students have participated in Collegiate Challenge.
The Builder's Blitz 2006
Professional homebuilders, partner families and Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the United States will work together to build 1,000 decent, affordable homes during Home Builders Blitz 2006. This five-day event — held from June 5 to June 9, 2006 — will be the largest of its kind in the history of the United States.
Home Builders Blitz 2006 will allow affiliates to increase their capacity by continuing with regular production schedules while professional home builders organize and execute the blitz build — doing what they do best. Home Builders Blitz events already held by HFH of Wake County (Raleigh, N.C.) and HFH of Greater Greensboro (Greensboro, N.C.) have resulted in the construction of 60 homes!
Please consider joining us for this exciting event! To find out more, contact the Home Builders Blitz project office at homebuildersblitz@habitat.org or at (800) HABITAT, Ext 4333.
External link
- Official Habitat for Humanity website, Find Your Local Affiliate
- Example Houses
- Jimmy Carter Work Project
- Collegiate Challenge