How
Habitat Started - Habitat for Humanity International
In 1968,
Millard Fuller, businessman and lawyer from Alabama, and Dr.
Clarence Jordan, founder of Koinonia Farms in Americus, Georgia,
began work to eliminate substandard housing in Sumter County,
Georgia. Determined not to act as money lender and charge
interest when lending to the poor, Koinonia Farms began building
and selling houses to the poor at no profit, no interest in
1968. Habitat continued that concept in Sumter County, and in
the year 2000, eliminated all substandard housing in that
community.
In 1973,
Millard and Linda Fuller carried the Koinonia Farms concept to
Zaire, Africa, and launched a building program for more than 160
houses. When they returned to the United States in 1976, the
Fullers settled in Americus, Georgia, and created Habitat for
Humanity in order to expand their work.
Habitat is
still headquartered in Americus, Georgia, and has more than
1,600 affiliates across the United States. Habitat also operates
in more than 83 countries around the world. The milestone 100,000th home
was built and dedicated in Harlem in New York City September
2000.
Former U.S.
President Jimmy Carter became a volunteer in 1986, and each year
he leads The Jimmy
Carter Work Project in a blighted area in the United States
or overseas. In August 2001, the JCWP built 120 homes in Korea.
In summer 2002, the JCWP will be building homes in South Africa.
Anyone
interested in working as a volunteer on the annual Jimmy Carter
Work Project, Habitat building projects in other parts of the
United States, or any builds in other areas around the world can
contact the Habitat International office in Americus, Georgia at
(912) 924-6935 or (800) 422-4828.
Some
Affiliate Countries
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi,
Canada, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, Egypt, EI Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire, Zambia.
To find out
more about Habitat for Humanity International and their other
affiliates around the world, please visit their website:
www.habitat.org.
P.O. Box
1092, 5195 Hwy 42, Hattiesburg, MS 39403
© 2005-2006 Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity
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Board and Staff