Habitat for Humanity (also known as Habitat, HFH, and H4H), like many great things in life, seems to be very misunderstood.
So what is it, actually? Well, let me tell you!
Habitat for Humanity International is a 501c3 nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry. The basic concept is to provide affordable housing for low income families. It was started in 1976 by Millard Fuller and his wife Linda.
Three statements. Probably three misconceptions. So, rewind.
Habitat for Humanity is a 501c3 nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry.
Habitat is indeed a Christian organization, because it was born out of the Christian learnings ("the idea of following Jesus' example of caring and compassion for all people") of a Christian man. Therefore, Habitat for Humanity expresses love for all humankind not just in thought, but through action, and without seeking profit.
So yes, it is a Christian organization, but in no way does Habitat discriminate against people of other faith traditions. Staff, volunteers, and Habitat families come from every walk of life, and that's the way they like it. Habitat founder, Millard Fuller, wrote a book called The Theology of the Hammer, which boils down to the fact that "Habitat is a partnership founded on common ground -- bridging theological differences by putting love into action. Everyone can use the hammer as an instrument to manifest God's love." As Fuller puts it, "we can agree on the idea of building homes with God's people in need, and in doing so using biblical economics: no profit and no interest...The Bible teaches that God is the God of the whole crowd. God's love leaves nobody out, and my love should not either. This understanding drives 'the theology of the hammer' around the world, steadily building more and more houses in more and more countries." So, many religious paths lead to the concepts that are the foundation for Habitat. It just so happens that Fuller's path was a Christian one.
The basic concept is to provide affordable housing for low income families.
My all-time absolute favorite Habitat phrase is "a hand up, not a hand out." I would say that the biggest misconception is that Habitat for Humanity is a charity that doles out houses to people who can't afford them. While it is true that Habitat provides low-income families with homes, they are by no means free. Habitat families work very hard before, during, and after the building of their home. Every affiliate does things a little differently, but no matter where you are, these "homesteaders" are required to put in "sweat equity" hours. At HFH Suffolk this is a three-fold process. Each soon-to-be homeowner puts in 35 days on the worksite, totaling 280 hours, working sometimes on their own home and often times on others. They also spend 6 days doing another form of service within the community they are moving into. Lastly, they must all take three classes at the Community Development Corporation, learning about home ownership, home maintenance, and financial fitness. Once they finally move into their home, the homeowners begin to pay back a 20 year interest free mortgage equivalent to the cost of building.
It was started in 1976 Millard Fuller and his wife Linda.
Yes, that's right. Jimmy Carter did not start Habitat. J.Cart, as I affectionately call him in my head, and his lovely wife Rosalynn, totally heart Habitat, and "have been longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national attention to the organization's house-building work. Each year, (since 1984) they lead the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project (a week long large-scale building blitz) to help build houses and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing." Carter Builds have led to thousands of homes all over the globe. I even worked on a Carter house in St Tammany, Louisiana, although, sadly, my beloved J.Cart was not there at the time.
As for the actual start of the HFH International organization, the idea was born when, in 1965, the Fullers left their affluence in Alabama in favor of living a life of Christian service at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial Christian community in Georgia. There, Fuller developed the idea of partnership housing and the Fund for Humanity, the mission statement of which says "what the poor need is not charity but capital...And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited . . . The fund will give away no money. It is not a handout."
Then, with a donation of land from Koinonia and donation of capital from around the country, Fuller was able to build a 42 home community in 1968. In 1973, the Fullers moved to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) to put the Fund for Humanity to work there. After three years, they moved back to the US, where, over the course of the next eight years, they established what is now the highly successful Habitat for Humanity International.
Wow! Still with me?
Just a few more fun facts...
Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide.
Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary, and dedicated their 133rd home just a couple of weeks ago. They are consistently ranked as one of the most prolific affiliates in both the state and the region because Suffolk County and its towns donate the land on which Habitat Homes are built, saving the affiliate time and money which they can put towards more homes.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
"All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning." - Albert Camus
Well...it finally seems to be real! In less than a week I will officially be filling out my final paperwork and I will be an AmeriCorps National Direct Volunteer.
It's been an interesting journey getting here, and I'm sure it'll be an even better one in the coming year.
I feel as though the AmeriCorps programs are tragically unknown by the American public, which is sad. It's most easily described as a kind of domestic PeaceCorps. I hadn't even heard of AmeriCorps until I went on my first Habitat for Humanity trip in 2007 and met a few AmeriCorps volunteers during my short stay at Camp Hope just outside of New Orleans. Through my various experiences with Habitat for Humanity in college, I met many different kinds of AmeriCorps volunteers: Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs- volunteers working with rising nonprofits and local government agencies to help fight poverty), National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC- volunteers working on a team on several short-term projects), and AmeriCorps National Direct (which, according to the AmeriCorps website, engages its members "in direct service and capacity-building to address unmet community needs,"). It was my conversations with them that solidified my decision to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer.
During my Senior year of college, I felt surrounded by curious adults asking me what my plans for the future were and telling me that they weren't envious of the fact that I was about to graduate into a terrible job market. I had thought about grad school, but didn't really know what I wanted to study. I had applied for a few jobs, and even found a company that I loved that loved me back, but they couldn't hire me due to the economic downturn. I began to think more and more about AmeriCorps, and by the time my semester break rolled around, I was sure that it was the option for me. I applied for NCCC and for several National Direct and VISTA positions. In the end, I found myself with three choices: a VISTA position with Habitat of Syracuse, a spot on an NCCC team based in Mississippi, and the position I ultimately chose: a National Direct job with Volunteer Services, Community Relations, and Faith Outreach at Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.
I applied for the position because, on paper, it seemed perfect for me. It was based on Long Island, where my family lives, giving me the opportunity not just a community, but actually my own. It featured the ability to work with people face to face. And one of the features was working with faith communities. With interfaith plurality being an issue very close to my heart, I knew that this was the one for me.
Living not too far from the office, I've had the opportunity to observe the affiliate before my term. After just a couple of months, I know that this position and this affiliate are exactly where I want to be. This office is exemplary of the true compassion that Habitat for Humanity was built on. The love shared between the staff, volunteers, homesteaders, and homeowners is absolutely incredible, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I get to spend the next year helping people to help people, building my community, giving deserving families a hand up. And I couldn't be more excited!
It's been an interesting journey getting here, and I'm sure it'll be an even better one in the coming year.
I feel as though the AmeriCorps programs are tragically unknown by the American public, which is sad. It's most easily described as a kind of domestic PeaceCorps. I hadn't even heard of AmeriCorps until I went on my first Habitat for Humanity trip in 2007 and met a few AmeriCorps volunteers during my short stay at Camp Hope just outside of New Orleans. Through my various experiences with Habitat for Humanity in college, I met many different kinds of AmeriCorps volunteers: Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs- volunteers working with rising nonprofits and local government agencies to help fight poverty), National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC- volunteers working on a team on several short-term projects), and AmeriCorps National Direct (which, according to the AmeriCorps website, engages its members "in direct service and capacity-building to address unmet community needs,"). It was my conversations with them that solidified my decision to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer.
During my Senior year of college, I felt surrounded by curious adults asking me what my plans for the future were and telling me that they weren't envious of the fact that I was about to graduate into a terrible job market. I had thought about grad school, but didn't really know what I wanted to study. I had applied for a few jobs, and even found a company that I loved that loved me back, but they couldn't hire me due to the economic downturn. I began to think more and more about AmeriCorps, and by the time my semester break rolled around, I was sure that it was the option for me. I applied for NCCC and for several National Direct and VISTA positions. In the end, I found myself with three choices: a VISTA position with Habitat of Syracuse, a spot on an NCCC team based in Mississippi, and the position I ultimately chose: a National Direct job with Volunteer Services, Community Relations, and Faith Outreach at Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.
I applied for the position because, on paper, it seemed perfect for me. It was based on Long Island, where my family lives, giving me the opportunity not just a community, but actually my own. It featured the ability to work with people face to face. And one of the features was working with faith communities. With interfaith plurality being an issue very close to my heart, I knew that this was the one for me.
Living not too far from the office, I've had the opportunity to observe the affiliate before my term. After just a couple of months, I know that this position and this affiliate are exactly where I want to be. This office is exemplary of the true compassion that Habitat for Humanity was built on. The love shared between the staff, volunteers, homesteaders, and homeowners is absolutely incredible, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I get to spend the next year helping people to help people, building my community, giving deserving families a hand up. And I couldn't be more excited!
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