Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity’s concept comes from a little farming community called Koinonia Farm. Founded by Clarence Jordan and a few others in Georgia, the farm was built in a bid to promote interracial harmony.
When Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity, visited Koinonia Farm in 1965 with the wish to turn a new leaf jumped headfirst into Christian service, leaving behind a successful business and a wealthy lifestyle. The two put their heads together and hatched a new concept: partnership housing. This meant that families in need of shelter would work alongside other volunteers to build themselves a simple house. The ‘no profit’ concept was funded by ‘Fund for Humanity’ which in turn was supported by new homeowners’ donations, house payments and no-interest loans as well as money raised from fundraisers.
In 1968, Koinonia laid out the basic model for Habitat for Humanity with a site enough for 42 half-acre housing plots, and a four-acre area for a community park and recreation. Funding came from all over the country and once homes were built, they were then sold to needy families with no profit or interest charged.
Taking the concept to an international level, the Fullers moved to Zaire in 1973. Three years of hard work bore fruit and they managed to provide shelter to close to 2,000 people. In September 1976, Linda and Millard along with a group of friends and supporters sat down at a meeting at which Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) was created.
Habitat’s work around the world has helped numerous families in need to find affordable housing solutions. At present, HFHI is responsible for the construction and rehabilitation of over 300,000 houses and for providing shelter to over 1.5 million people across North and Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific. Their work is supported by 132 partners in the Asia Pacific region and 2,291 partners globally.