Habitat For Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, born out of a vision of a world where everyone would have the opportunity to have a decent place to live.

Though Millard Fuller came from humble beginnings in Alabama, he became a self-made millionaire at age 29. With a nagging urge to accomplish more than that, Millard and his wife Linda, sold their possessions and began searching for a new focus for their lives. Their search took them to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Georgia.

With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan, the Fullers initiated a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis. Future homeowners invested their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house and fostered the development of positive relationships and community. Mortgage payments were placed into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes with even more families.

In 1973, the Fullers moved to Zaire, Africa (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to test out their housing model which proved to be a huge success.

After returning to the U.S. in 1976, the Fullers met with a group of close associates and created a new organization, recognized today as Habitat for Humanity International. From 1976 to 2005, the Fullers devoted their energies to the expansion of Habitat throughout the world.

Millard Fuller died in February 2009 at the age of 74 but his legacy carries on through every new Habitat project throughout the world. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has helped more than 39 million people build or improve the place they call home. Habitat is present in all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries worldwide, bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.