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Habitat for Humanity

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Habitat for Humanity International
Founded1976; 48 years ago (1976)
Americus, Georgia, U.S.
FoundersMillard Fuller
Linda Fuller
TypeNon-profit, interest group, Christian
Location
    • Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. (Administrative headquarters)
    • Americus, Georgia, U.S. (Global/international headquarters)
Services"Building simple, decent and affordable housing"
FieldsProtecting human rights
Key people
Jonathan Reckford, CEO
Websitewww.habitat.org

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and tax-exempt 501(C)(3) Christian nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing.[1] The international operational headquarters are located in Americus, Georgia, United States, with the administrative headquarters located in Atlanta.[2] As of 2023, Habitat for Humanity operates in more than 70 countries.[3]

Habitat for Humanity works to help build and improve homes for families of low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. Homes are built using volunteer labor, including that of Habitat homeowners through the practice of sweat equity, as well as paid contractors for certain construction or infrastructure activities as needed.[4] Habitat makes no profit from the sales.[2]

The organization operates with financial support from individuals, philanthropic foundations, corporations, government entities, and mass media companies.[5]

History

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Habitat for Humanity traces its roots to the establishment of the Humanity Fund by attorney Millard Fuller, his wife Linda, and Baptist theologian and farmer Clarence Jordan in 1968 at Koinonia Farm, an intercultural Christian intentional community farming community in Sumter County, Georgia, United States.[6] With the funds, 42 homes were built at Koinonia for families in need. In 1973, the Fullers decided to try the concept at a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) mission in Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo. After three successful years, the Fullers returned to the United States and founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976.[7]

In 2022, in Tempe, Arizona, Habitat for Humanity 3D-printed walls for a house when not enough labor was available.[8]

Ongoing programs

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A Brush With Kindness

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Habitat for Humanity's A Brush With Kindness is a locally operated program serving low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. The program is a holistic approach to providing affordable housing and assisting communities as well as families. Groups of volunteers help homeowners with exterior maintenance. This typically includes painting, minor exterior repairs, landscaping, weatherization and exterior clean-up.[9]

Affiliates

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Dedication of Habitat for Humanity homes in Greenville, North Carolina

Jacksonville

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Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (called HabiJax), is one of the larger affiliate of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) in the United States. Habijax was named the eighth-largest homebuilder in the United States by Builder magazine for 2009.[10] HabiJax in 2023 marked 35 years of service and has provided homes to over 2,300 families.[11][12]

History

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The HabiJax affiliate was founded in 1988 by nine unnamed representatives from congregations in Jacksonville. Initial funding was secured from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. Their first project was a house donated by the South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church that was moved, setup and rehabilitated for the first HabiJax homeowner family.[13]

New York City

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Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County (Habitat NYC and Westchester) was founded in 1984 as an independent affiliate, serving families across the five boroughs through home construction and preservation, beginning with their first build on the Lower East Side, during the first Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.[14] This 19-unit building on East 6th Street, the first Habitat building in New York City, was completed in December 1986. In 1995, four different New York City affiliates united to form one affiliate—Habitat NYC. In 2020, the affiliate expanded its work into Westchester, becoming Habitat NYC and Westchester.[15] Karen Haycox was appointed CEO of Habitat NYC and Westchester in August 2015.[16]

Other special initiatives

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Habitat Bicycle Challenge

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The Habitat Bicycle Challenge (HBC), a nine-week, coast-to-coast bicycle trip undertaken to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven and to increase awareness of Habitat for Humanity in general, took place annually from 1995 to 2007. Prior to embarking in June on the 4,000-mile (6,400 km) trek, participants engaged in a seven-month fundraising campaign for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven. Once on the road, they served as roaming advertisements for Habitat and gave nightly presentations explaining Habitat's mission to their hosts, usually church congregations. They also took part in builds with local Habitat chapters along the way. At its height, HBC attracted about 90 participants a year, all aged 18 to 24 and about half coming from Yale University. Each rider traveled one of three routes: New Haven to San Francisco, New Haven to Portland, or New Haven to Seattle. By 2004 HBC had become the single largest yearly fundraiser for any Habitat affiliate in the world, raising about $400,000 a year. However, amid growing safety concerns, Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven was forced to announce the cancellation of HBC in September 2007.[17]

Criticism

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Safety of volunteers

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Habitat for Humanity construction has led to serious injuries or death to some volunteers.[18][19][20]

Cost-effectiveness

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Habitat has been criticized for its slow and inefficient rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.[21]

An article in the Weekly Standard, an American opinion magazine, questioned the cost-effectiveness of Habitat building projects. To estimate cost effectiveness, The Weekly Standard alleged that all costs associated with building a Habitat home must be used, including the cost of volunteer time and training.[22]

Habitat affiliates in the region have remained some of the largest homebuilders in their areas and have received numerous awards and acknowledgements for their work in building quality homes.[23]

Partnering with low-income families

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Families are required to show an ability to pay for their home in addition to the need for housing. With these requirements, homeless and low-income families may fail to qualify for a Habitat home. Most American Habitat affiliates perform credit checks and criminal record checks on applicants before partnering with them for the construction of a home. Some critics therefore allege that Habitat misrepresents the nature of its work by partnering with families that might be considered nearly "middle-income".[22] To address this, many Habitat affiliates in the United States partner only with families that fall below the government-set "poverty line" for their area. The current poverty rate is measured according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.[24]

Ousting of the founder

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The Habitat board investigated Millard Fuller for sexual harassment but found "insufficient proof of inappropriate conduct." Some Fuller supporters claim that the firing was due to a change in corporate culture.[25]

Before Fuller's termination, attempts were made by former President Jimmy Carter to broker an agreement that would allow Fuller to retire with his $79,000 salary intact; when Fuller was found to have violated the non-disclosure portion of this agreement, he was subsequently fired, and his wife, Linda was also fired.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Charity Navigator". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Habitat for Humanity fact sheet". Habitat for Humanity International. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Habitat's history". Habitat for Humanity. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  4. ^ "West Tuality Habitat for Humanity Completes Kidd Court Development, Celebrates Homeowner". West Tuality Habitat for Humanity. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Corporate and foundation partners". Habitat for Humanity. 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. ^ Hatfield, Edward, Habitat for Humanity International, georgiaencyclopedia.org, USA, 2020
  7. ^ Helmut K. Anheier, Stefan Toepler, International Encyclopedia of Civil Society, Springer Science & Business Media, USA, 2009, p. 817
  8. ^ Davis-Young, Katherine (11 January 2022). "3D printed houses may be the future of the construction industry". NPR. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Huntington Police Team with Habitat's Brush of Kindness". Huntington News. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  10. ^ Harding, Abel. "Habitat for Humanity now one of nation's ten largest homebuilders". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  11. ^ Patrick, Steve (4 August 2020). "HabiJax to build tiny houses in Lackawanna". News4jax.com. WJXT News4JAX.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  12. ^ Baldwin, Kerry. "Our Saviour Habijax ministry members give deserving families "a hand up rather than a handout"". Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  13. ^ O'Rourke, Mary Kay (29 March 2018). "HabiJax is committed to building both homes and hope". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Our Story". habitatnycwc.org. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Westchester County". habitatnycwc.org. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  16. ^ Habitat for Humanity (17 August 2015). "Karen Haycox Named CEO of Habitat for Humanity New York City" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Daniel Lewis et al. v. Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven, Inc. et al".
  18. ^ Todd, Jennifer (5 August 2010). "Volunteer dies in accident". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  19. ^ "OSHA's reach falls short of nonprofits". The Daily Reporter. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  20. ^ "DeVries v. Paterson Habitat for Humanity". Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  21. ^ Eaton, Leslie; Strom, Stephanie (22 February 2007). "Volunteer Group Lags in Replacing Gulf Houses". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  22. ^ a b Chalk, Philip (13 June 2005). "Jimmy Carter's Favorite Charity". The Weekly Standard. 10 (37). New York: News America Publishing. ISSN 1083-3013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. (subscription required)
  23. ^ "Habitat for Humanity builds $90,000 green Miss. gem". USA Today.
  24. ^ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (31 January 2011). "Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement". Department of Health and Human Services. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  25. ^ Jewell, Jim (7 February 2005). "Questions Follow Fuller's Firing from Habitat for Humanity". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  26. ^ Cooperman, Alan (9 March 2005). "Harassment Claims Roil Habitat for Humanity". The Washington Post. p. A1. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012.
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