Habitat of Lakeland Blog » Jimmy Carter

A Kind History

Lakeland Habitat — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:54:19 +0000

In The Beginning

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.

The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965. They had recently left a successful business and an affluent lifestyle in Montgomery, Alabama to begin a new life of Christian service.

At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.

The Fund for Humanity
The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.” The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.

The Fund for Humanity’s mission statement:
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. 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.

Inception of Habitat for Humanity
In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun.

Zaire
In 1973, the Fullers decided to apply the Fund for Humanity concept in developing countries.

Workers build the exterior wall of a house in Zaire in 1975

The Fuller family moved to Mbandaka, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo.) The Fullers’ goal was to offer affordable yet adequate shelter to 2,000 people. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program, the Fullers returned to the United States.

Expansion into Habitat for Humanity International
In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born at this meeting. The eight years that followed, vividly described in Millard Fuller’s book, “Love in the Mortar Joints,” proved that the vision of a housing ministry was workable. Faith, hard work and direction set HFHI on its successful course.

Phenomenal growth
In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project , to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat’s ministry brought the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat’s work across the nation. HFHI experienced a dramatic increase in the number of new affiliates around the country.

Habitat today
Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem ― decent housing for all.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 400,000 houses, sheltering more than 2 million people worldwide.

Donate a Dollar-A Bill for A Build!

rianancoo — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:10:02 +0000

Lets Build a House Facebook Fans!

$1.00 WILL BUILD A FACEBOOK FRIENDS OF LAKELAND HABITAT HOUSE!!!

Don’t think your $1.00 won’t count!

Everyone carries a burden, yet some are heavier than others…Your ONE Dollar along with another $1.00 and another 1.00 will Build a Habitat Home for someone in need, you will Build Hope for a better future. DONATE TODAY!

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Good Stewardship

We take seriously our responsibility to contributors, to those counting on our help, and to God, to be wise stewards of funds entrusted to us.

Gift Designation

Your donation will go where it is needed most, unless you specify below a particular location for it to be used. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, Lakeland Habitat for Humanity retains complete control over the use and distribution of donated funds in furtherance of its mission.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to a Facebook Fans donated House!

DONATE HERE!

Thank you,

Claire Twomey

Arrived in Hanoi!

Lakeland Habitat — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:51:06 +0000

I am safe and sound here in Vietnam. Cannot understand what anyone is saying and they cannot understand me. Lots of sign language! Very strange being in a communist country. Went on a trip into Hanoi and then yesterday went out on a boat in Long Bay. Taxi cab driver was pulled over and policeman tried to pull the keys out and with door open the cab just took off, not sure what that was about and was waiting for police to chase us, but cab driver went in and out of traffic and nothing happened. Scared the tail out of me!!! Tomorrow morning at 6:45 we start to build.

Claire

Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project: Mekong Build 2009

rianancoo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:31:28 +0000

Overview

The need for affordable housing in the Mekong region is immense. Some of the poorest people in Asia live along the countries touching The Mekong River. Nearly one-third of the population lives in poverty—many on less than one dollar per day.

Build Sites:
Thailand | Vietnam | China | Cambodia | Laos

From November 15–20, 2009, The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project will unite volunteers and families in need of decent, affordable housing in the Mekong region. During the weeklong build, volunteers will build with an estimated 175 families in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and China’s Sichuan Province.

Featured Story

A ‘New Life’ is almost ready in Cambodia
The 21 families moving to the new Habitat site in Oudong city have named their neighborhood the New Life Community. It is situated in Sra Por village―seemingly a world away—from the garbage dump where they previously lived.

Featured Photos and Videos

More Photos/Videos

Setting the stage in Thailand
Hundreds of volunteers and partner families and thousands of tools and materials will come together during the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.