Habitat For Humanity

Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller who changed their lives from a life as successful business owners and affluence to a life of service, Habitat For Humanity has built and rehabilitated more than 175,000 houses with families in need, sheltering more than 1,000,000 people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide.

The inspiration for the organization came in part from the concept of "partnership housing" where those in need of adequate shelter would work side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent housing. 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 the organization. Habitat For Humanity works with people of all religions, ethnic groups and races.

Through Habitat For Humanity thousands of low income families have found the hope of affordable housing. Habitat has joined with churches and other community groups to successfully address the significant social problem of decent housing for all. Now at work in 100 countries they are building a house every 26 minutes. Habitat For Humanity has established itself as a foremost world leader in addressing the issues of poverty and housing.
Many people have been touched and inspired by this organization. Amy Napier a student at Rochester College in Rochester Hills Michigan recently organized a Shack-A-Thon with her fellow students to raise awareness for the need of adequate shelter and the Habitat For Humanity Organization. Twenty-three students, staff and faculty from the college built make shift shacks on the college campus with building supplies donated from local business and lived in the shacks each housing two to four people over a weekend. Participants cooked outside, had no television, computers or any of the other markers that bring comfort and convenience to their everyday lives. The event took four months to plan and a lot of hard work but Amy found it extremely worthwhile. "I grew up hearing my parents stories about growing up poverty stricken in Kentucky. They each had

one pair of shoes for the year and in the summertime they went barefoot." Thankfully life has changed a great deal for them Amy said but her parents have never lost sight of and have always taught her the importance of giving back to the community. As for Habitat For Humanity Amy says, " Seeing an organization that really helps people is so incredibly inspiring!"

Habitat For Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. They welcome all people to join them in building simple, decent and affordable houses in partnership with those who lack adequate shelter.

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