Habitat for Humanity is an international service organization. Its mission is to eliminate all poverty housing in the world. This mission is accomplished in three ways. First, ordinary people like you and me can volunteer their time at a worksite building a house for a family in need. Secondly, people like you and I raise money for Habitat that, in conjunction with grants from the government, pay for the materials used in building these houses. Lastly, Habitat is a hand up, not a hand out. The family receiving the house also pays a no interests mortgage for the material costs. Now you ask yourself, "But if I raised money to pay for the house, and the family pays for it too, doesn't the house get paid for twice?" And you would be right, and that's the idea. This allows Habitat to grow exponentially, and also, isn't it quite cool that after a family receives a house they help pay for the home of another family?

So whose idea was this? Well, a common misconception is that Jimmy Carter was the founder of Habitat for Humanity, but while Carter has been instrumental in the growth and political support of Habitat for Humanity, it was in fact Millard Fulller who founded Habitat for Humanity. Since Habitat's founding, Fuller's leadership has helped forge Habitat into a worldwide Christian housing organization. As a demonstration of God's love, Habitat volunteers have built homes together with more than 100,000 families in need in more than 1,500 U.S. cities and 82 other countries. HFHI has grown to be one of the top 20 house builders in the U.S. -- and the largest among nonprofits. More than 500,000 people now have safe, decent, affordable shelter due to Habitat's work around the world.

Fuller founded Habitat with his wife Linda in 1976. He travels and speaks worldwide, and has received international recognition for his work in advocating decent, affordable housing for all. HFHI is cited as an important leader in the battle against poverty housing in the U.S. and abroad. President Bill Clinton says Habitat is "...the most successful continuous community service project in the history of the United States. It has revolutionized the lives of thousands... Millard Fuller has done as much to make the dream of homeownership a reality in our country and throughout the world as any living person." Jack Kemp, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and current HFHI board member, agrees, adding "When I'm asked about housing success stories from our inner cities, the first group that comes to mind is Habitat for Humanity." "I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need." Millard Fuller Thanks to HFH Int'l - Millard Fuller for providing much of the content of this page.