Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization that builds simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with people in need. Volunteers and partner families provide most of the labour, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build the houses. Habitat for Humanity houses are sold to partner families at no profit and with no interest charged; mortgage payments are used to build more houses. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 150,000 houses, working in all 50 U.S. states and 99 other countries around the world.

  - The history of Habitat
  - Jimmy Carter's involvement
  - Habitat Canada's beginnings
  - Frequently asked questions

The history of Habitat

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) evolved out of the work at Koinonia Farm, a Christian community near Americus, Georgia, founded by Clarence Jordan.

Clarence Jordan set up a housing ministry at Koinonia Farm founded on the concept of partnership housing: building homes together with the families selected, selling them the homes at no profit, and providing interest-free mortgages.

Millard and Linda Fuller volunteered at Koinonia from 1968 to 1972 and embraced Jordan's concept: people lacking adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers from all walks of life to build simple, decent houses and the houses being sold at no profit and financed by interest-free mortgage loans. The Habitat for Humanity model was born. Habitat homes are financed from the revolving Fund for Humanity which is comprised of mortgage payments received from other Habitat homeowners, donations, and interest-free loans provided by Habitat Friends. The money in the revolving Fund for Humanity provides the necessary financing for the construction of more homes.

In 1973, the Fullers decided to apply the revolving Fund for Humanity concept in developing countries. They launched their program as part of a housing ministry to offer adequate, affordable shelter to 2,000 people in Zaire.

In 1976, after returning to the United States, the Fullers chose Americus, Georgia, as the location for the Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) headquarters.

During recent years, HFHI has experienced phenomenal growth. The organization now boasts more than 1,900 American affiliates (local Habitat groups) in 50 states and in the District of Columbia, and more than 100 international affiliates in 79 countries around the world. In 2000, HFHI built home its 100,000th home.

All houses are built in partnership with the local communities. HFHI homes have housed over 400,000 people and the number continues to grow: an average of one new home is dedicated every hour!

Jimmy Carter's involvement

In 1984, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter began to volunteer with HFHI in New York. Their personal involvement has given Habitat a great deal of exposure and has raised the organization's profile worldwide. The Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP), a special build event led by the Carters since 1984, is held at a different location each year. In 1993, 18 houses were built in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and 10 were built in the Waterloo region of Ontario. For more information, visit HFHI at: www.habitat.org

We have all become small players in an exciting global effort to alleviate the curse of homelessness. Former President and Nobel Laureate Jimmy Carter

Habitat Canada's beginnings

Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) was created in 1985. HFHC now has more than 61 affiliates in Canada's 10 provinces.

The Canadian headquarters is located in Waterloo, Ontario. Former Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer is Patron of Habitat for Humanity Canada. Every July since 1984, he and his wife, Lily, participate in a build, which brings together hundreds of volunteers to build several houses at once.

HFHC contributes 10% of its non-designated cash donations to its sister organization, Habitat for Humanity Jamaica. Each year, usually during the winter months, many volunteers travel to Jamaica at their own expense to work on build projects.