Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry with a vision to create “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
Millard and Linda Fuller developed the idea for Habitat for Humanity after visiting Koinonia Farm, near Americus, Georgia. It was there that the Fullers met Koinonia founder and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. Together, they created the idea of “partnership housing” as a way to provide safe homes for people in need.
The first Habitat home was actually part of an entire Habitat neighborhood! The original acreage came from Koinonia Farm and 42 homes were built in 1968 and sold to low-income people with no-interest home loans funded by supporters of the project. From there, the Fullers took the project to Zaire in 1973 and spent three years building safe shelter using their “Fund for Humanity” model. In 1976, they decided the project worked well and Habitat for Humanity International was born!
Nearly a decade later, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter encountered a Habitat build in New York City and was inspired to volunteer. President Carter and his wife Rosalyn quickly became two of Habitat’s most prominent supporters.
Over the years that followed, Habitat for Humanity continued to grow. Today, Habitat has helped build or repair more than 600,000 houses and served more than 3 million people around the world. It has become one of the largest, most globally recognized charitable organizations.
Just as the state support organizations support local affiliates, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) supports all Habitat SSOs has operational headquarters in Americus, Georgia where Habitat was founded. Administrative headquarters are in Atlanta.
HFHI is managed by employees, volunteers, and a dedicated board of directors. Their work and guidance allows Habitat to address the needs of poverty housing both by building decent, affordable homes and by working with city, state, and country governments to address problems that create housing crises. Learn more about how HFHI supports Habitat affiliates and works to eliminate poverty housing at www.Habitat.org.
