Habitat International
Timeline
The Habitat Chronicles
A few moments in time from Habitat's first 35 years.
1968
Partnership housing model created at Koinonia, the seed for Habitat's birth eight years later.
1976
The Torres family first to partner with a U.S. Habitat affiliate in San Antonio, Texas.
1984
The first Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter Work Project renovates a 19-unit apartment building in New York City.
1988
Habitat's Global Village and Youth Programs created, engaging new volunteers.
1992
Habitat's first U.S. resale outlet opens in Austin, Texas. Now 100's of ReStores recycle building materials and build more houses.
2000
Habitat's 100,000th home dedicated in New York City.
2005
Habitat celebrates its 200,000th house, providing shelter for 1 million people since 1976.
2008
National Women Build Week premieres the same year as Habitat's long-term "Build Louder" advocacy campaign.
2009
Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative introduced in U.S. to encourage holistic community development.
2012
House No. 600,000 built.
2013
The mission continues....!
Shelter from rain, wind and sun is a basic human need.
Habitat for Humanity provides decent, affordable houses to families in need. Habitat homeowners gain self-respect as they work alongside volunteers to construct their homes.
- Habitat is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization.
- To accomplish these goals, Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
- Habitat International Strategic Plan - 2014-2018 - Click to download a brief summary
- Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda.
Habitat for Humanity surpassed its 600,000 house milestone during its most recent fiscal year. Since the nonprofit organization was founded in 1976, its self-help, hand-up model has resulted in rehabbed, repaired or new housing for more than 3 million people worldwide.
In fiscal year 2012, Habitat for Humanity helped 94,618 families improve their living conditions and change their lives. We know that decent shelter can have a transformational, long-term impact on individual families and entire communities, because we have seen it more than 600,000 times since Habitat started building houses in 1976.
As highlighted in Habitat's Annual Report, the people behind those numbers – the determined families, the generous donors, the tireless volunteers – are living testament to the simple but powerful foundation of Habitat's work.
Every 5½ minutes, somewhere in the world, Habitat for Humanity is helping a family improve their living situation – through construction, repairs, rehabs or incremental building. If you've given money to Habitat, you're a critical part of that success story.
Click to learn more about Habitat International.
Habitat affiliates are located Worldwide, in nearly 90 countries and in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Click to learn about Vermont affiliates.
Each affiliate
- is an independently run, nonprofit organization.
- coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area—fund raising; building site selection; partner family selection and support; house construction; and mortgage servicing.
- tithes 10% of all unrestricted contributions to support Habitat's work in developing countries, thinking and helping internationally, while acting locally. In FY 2010, Habitat affiliates tithed approximately $14.7 million, and 100 percent of those dollars supported Habitat's work in the developing countries. This translates into 2,270 families overseas that have a better place to live today because of affiliate tithes, impacting poverty housing globally as U. S. affiliates work hard locally!
Habitat International – Goals for FY 2012 (Click to download full report.) It takes less than two minutes to download.
1. Serving families—and the communities in which they live—through sustainable housing solutions.
A. Expanding the spectrum of housing solutions.
B. Revitalizing neighborhoods by responding to community needs with an expanded array of housing products, services and partnerships, enhancing the quality of life for all.
C. Promoting sustainable building practices using methods and products that create energy-efficient homes, reducing partner family expenses and lessening environmental impact.
2. Raising funds from individuals, major donors, corporations, government and other partners, as well as through Habitat ReStores.
3. Mobilizing volunteers through a variety of local, national and international programs.
4. Being good stewards of resources through quality assurance and financial sustainability.
World Habitat World Habitat Day - October 7, 2013
Each year the United Nations designates the first Monday in October as World Habitat Day a time to recognize the need for adequate housing for everyone. Help us stand up in our community on Oct. 7 and help us get out the message that housing plays a pivotal role in lifting families out of poverty and creating strong communities. The ripple effects of our actions can change lives for generations to come.
Are you interested in helping? Let us know by calling 802-367-1000 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Consider what actions you think would be good for our affiliate to take in support of affordable housing on World Habitat Day. Help us to raise our collective voices to promote policies and systems that help the vulnerable in our societies access the security of tenure and the resources needed to improve their own living conditions.
Updated Housing Numbers
- Since 1976, Habitat has built over 600,000 houses worldwide providing more than 3 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Vermont affiliates have built 135 homes locally. Affilates tithe 10% of all unrestricted donations to Habitat International and have sponsored 136 homes in other countries.
- Habitat for Humanity achieves No. 8 on the ‘Builder 100’ list. Due to the combined building efforts of U.S. affiliates, volunteers and donors, Habitat for Humanity recently achieved the rank of No. 8 on the 2009 Builder 100 list, marking the first time Habitat has been among the top 10 biggest builders in the United States.
- Habitat videos - In Small Towns - This is a short video that tells the Habitat story. This video takes two minutes to download. It is well worth the time.
- Haiti and Chiie - how to help - Habitat is addressing shelter problems for low-income families affected by the earthquakes in Chilie and Haiti. Habitat’s ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require support from donors, corporate partners and other community organizations. To lend support, please donate today. The Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity affiliate plans to send its 2010 tithe to Haiti.
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Cars for homes - You can help a family in our community build a house and the hope of a better life by donating a car, truck, boat, RV, motorcycle, construction equipment or other vehicles — running or not ! To donate, call Cars for Homes™ (877) 277-HFHI (4344) toll free or go online to www.carsforhomes.org.
- Global Village - Looking for a vacation experience that lets you dip into a new culture while leaving a positive mark on the community you visit? Find out...
- Frequently Asked Questions - Click here to see an excellent FAQ developed by Habitat International.