Habitat For Humanity International (HFHI) is a non-profit Christian ministry that is dedicated to the elimination of substandard housing and homelessness worldwide. There are several local groups in communities within the United States of Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity organizes volunteer groups that build simple, affordable houses that are sold to lower income families who need simple yet safe homes but cannot qualify for a bank loan. These families must meet requirements of need, ability to repay the cheap, interest free mortgage, and must be willing to continue work with habitat.
The money from these house payments the families pay monthly enter HFHI's private fund, which is used to fund further construction projects.
Key Dates
- 1942: Koinonia Farm, an interracial Christian farming community is founded near Americus, Georgia
- 1976: Millard and Linda Fuller found Habitat for Humanity, after being inspired by Koinonia Farm
- 1996: President Clinton awards Millard Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom for creating Habitat for Humanity
- January 31, 2005: The Fullers are dismissed by the board of directors
- August 4, 2005: Johnathan Reckford is announced as the organization's new CEO
- 2006: Headquarters move from Americus to Atlanta, Georgia
Founder's Alleged Misconduct
On January 31, 2005, HFHI's board of directors dismissed both Millard and Linda Fuller from their positions after allegations arose that Millard had sexually harassed a female employee in 2003. Although the termination remained final, representatives of the organization later admitted that the grounds for Fuller's termination may not have been completely true, and that he was likely dismissed due to a shift in corporate management.
Habitat for Humanity Timeline
1976: Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is established in Americus, GA
1977: Clive Rainey joins as its first volunteer
1978: San Antonio, Texas, forms the first U.S. HFHI affiliate outside of Georgia
1979: First HFHI house in Americus is built
1983: HFHI begins development of National Partners to coordinate work in their own countries
1984: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn become HFHI partners
1984: The first Jimmy Carter Work Project is held in New York City
1986: HFHI celebrates 10th anniversary with the 1000 Mile Walk from Americus to Kansas City
1987: Campus Chapters program begins. First chapter at Baylor University, Waco, Texas
1988: Global Village program and Corporate Donor department established
1989: Hurricane Hugo strikes South Carolina. All HFHI houses in the state survive.
1990: Bo and Emma Johnson, the first housing partners at Koinonia, pay off their mortgage
1991: HFHI's 10,000th house is built
1991: HFHI's first all-women-built house is completed in Charlotte, N.C
1992: HFHI's Native Peoples Initiative partners with tribes to address the need for reservation housing
1996: HFHI dedicates 50,000th house worldwide in Pensacola, FL
1997: U.S. Congress begins work with HFHI on "The Houses that Congress Built"
1997: Oprah Winfrey challenges viewers to "build an Oprah house." Within 2 years, the program has nearly met its national goal of 200 homes
1998: HFHI ranks as the 15th largest homebuilder in the U.S.
Similar or Affiliated Organizations
Thrivent Builds: With Habitat for Humanity
The Fuller Center for Housing: Building on Higher Ground
Bridge of Hope National: Ending Homelessness in your Community . . .
Official Site: National Coalition for the Homeless
