Unfortunately not everyone is lucky enough to have a home to call their own. Although the economy is booming and homeownership is at an all time high, there is also a serious shortage of adequate lower-income housing. Even those lower-income families who are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads find that the money needed to cover their mortgage or rent (sometimes more than half of their income) leaves little at the end of the month to put toward food, clothing, or other basic needs.

This is not a new situation. Millard Fuller and his wife Linda recognized the need for people on the lower end of the economic scale to be allowed to own simple, decent, affordable housing over 35 years ago. In 1965 they came up with the idea of "partnership housing." Partnership housing, Fuller thought, would be a way for new houses to be built for cost and sold at no profit. Any money lent to the homebuyer would be interest free, and payments would be worked out to fit the need of the individual. The homes would be built using supervised volunteers. And the monies from the homeowner's interest free house payments would be used to finance new homes for other disadvantaged families. This basic idea would become the non-profit organization, the Fund for Humanity. In an open letter to potential supporters, Fuller wrote, in part:

"What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. 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."

In 1968 the first 42 homes were built and sold to families in need. Fuller kept to his plan, the money to build the homes came from donations from all around the country, and no profits were made from their sale. For the next five years The Fund for Humanity continued to build homes for the needy all over the United States, but this was only the beginning.

In 1973, the Fund for Humanity took a huge step when they applied their Fund for Humanity concept into developing countries. Working with the government of Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of Congo) the Fullers continued their work of helping people to afford homes for themselves and their families. Three years later the Fund for Humanity was ultimately responsible for helping to build nearly 2,000 homes. When the Fullers returned to the United States in 1976 they proceeded to change the name of their organization to the now familiar Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI).

Today HFHI is building homes all across America, in all 50 states and in over 60 countries around the world. Although the houses they build may be modest by North American standards, many average around 1,000 square feet or less, there is no way to measure the pride and joy that comes from helping those less fortunate than yourself. Indeed, as the Habitat For Humanity volunteers construct each new house, and as each new family is able to move into what once seemed unobtainable...a house of their very own, the old saying comes back stronger, and more resonant than ever. There truly is "no place like home."

For information on how you can make a donation to the Habitat for Humanity International organization, or if you'd like to learn how you can become a volunteer, please go to their website. Or you can contact them by mail or phone at:

Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat St.
Americus, GA 31709
USA

Telephone: (229) 924-6935
ext. 2551 or 2552

When writing or sending e-mail, please be sure to supply your name and address.