Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) was formed in 1976 as an ecumenical Christian ministry devoted to building safe, decent, affordable, and secure living spaces. Its mission is "Seeking to put God’s love into action; Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope." The strategy is to strengthen, stabilize, and inspire independence by working with homeowner families, volunteers, donated materials, and financial donors to build and rehabilitate homes for the poor in more than sixty countries throughout the world. At its core, the ministry believes shelter is a basic human right for all people. Its mission is an activist response to slum conditions in which the urban poor find themselves. The ministry attacks overcrowding in cities, brings running water to rural homes, and strives to break the cycle of poverty. HFHI recruits individuals and maintains strategic partnerships with schools and universities and also partners with companies, corporations, and foundations committed to sustainability in order to help millions of people move into decent shelters.

Background

Millard Dean Fuller (1935–2009) founded HFHI in 1976, and the ministry grew as an extension of his commitment to build affordable housing everywhere. Fuller was a self-made millionaire but considered himself a Christian and strived to do God’s work by helping others. First, he moved to an interracial farm community in 1968 and later to the central African country of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as a missionary. Upon his return to the United States, he and his family built simple housing for low-income families with Fuller using his business acumen and charisma to mobilize volunteers and collect donations. Homeowners covered the cost of some materials and paid interest-free mortgages. The program was first called Partnership Housing.

Fuller was awarded more than fifty honorary degrees, and President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom for making the dream of home ownership a reality in America and the world. In addition to their headquarters in Georgia, HFHI works in seventy countries grouped into five regions around the world.

HFHI works with local selection committees to narrow the application process based on need, willingness to partner in the program, and ability to repay the loan (some interest is charged in countries with unstable currencies). Homeowners commit to five hundred hours of "sweat equity" as their down payment, and HFHI uses volunteers from schools and universities, religious institutions, and corporations. Some funds are generated from church donations, but HFHI makes no profit on any of the homes it builds and turns over. Habitat ReStores are outlet sales centers that sell new and used building materials donated by businesses, and profits are put toward building additional homes and rehab projects.

Habitat for Humanity Today

A 2024 national analysis found that Habitat affiliates’ $1.68 billion in home-building and repair spending from 2021 to 2022 generated about $2.91 billion in economic activity and $302 million in state and federal tax revenue. This work is sustained by a broad base of support—Habitat for Humanity receives millions in annual donations through individual and corporate giving, grants, and in-kind contributions, with the international organization reporting $362 million in revenue in fiscal year 2024 and an estimated $3.1 billion across its full federated network. None of this impact would be possible without volunteers; in 2023, more than 827,607 people helped build homes, advocate, and share the organization’s mission.

Additionally, HFHI is committed to "green building," making houses energy efficient by using materials that support sustainability. US affiliates gained LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building certification after completing a housing project in River Falls, Wisconsin, known as Eco-Village, which broke ground in 2011; HFH Tajikistan (former USSR nation Stalinabad) was awarded the Global Energy Award in 2010 for a resource-saving bio-sand water-filter project. HFHI has since expanded its sustainability commitments through energy-efficient construction standards, disaster-resilient design, and climate-adaptation projects across multiple regions.

Another important project for HFHI is A Brush with Kindness, which combines affordable housing and programs specifically designed to improve communities; volunteers help other homeowners improve the exteriors of surrounding homes where HFHI is active. There are also international trips for trained volunteers to destinations of their choice for nine to fourteen days. HFHI is an active participating agency in the US-funded Corporation for National and Community Service as a way of maximizing volunteers and other HFHI resources. HFHI is affiliated with AmeriCorps, a national volunteer service organization that has built over two thousand homes. HFHI has an RV Care-A-Van program, with volunteers driving their vehicles to HFHI sites to work as their time allows. The Women Build volunteer program has completed 2,300 homes since 1991. There are youth programs, campus chapters, collegiate challenges, and annual events like the Habitat Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (formerly the Jimmy Carter Work Project), the Home Builders Blitz, and the AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon. In addition to these ongoing programs, HFHI regularly organizes large-scale rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts following natural disasters in the United States and abroad, such as after Hurricane Katrina and Rita and in Bangladesh following a major cyclone.

HFHI also partners with corporations, philanthropic foundations, and community groups to sponsor home construction, volunteer engagement, and global development initiatives. Corporate partnerships—such as those with Nissan, Lowe’s, and the Heisman Trophy Trust—support construction projects, youth programs, and community outreach.

In 2015 and 2016, HFHI was “Brand of the Year” in the Social Services Nonprofit category based on the Harris Poll EquiTrend Equity Score. Adding gravitas to HFHI’s reputation is being named the “Most Loved” and “Most Trusted” brand. The organization has continued to receive high marks for trust and community impact in nonprofit assessments and brand-equity surveys.

In 2023, Habitat for Humanity’s MicroBuild Fund won the Silver World Habitat Award for its work helping low-income families in developing countries build or improve their homes. In 2024, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International Jonathan Reckford was awarded the Administrator of the Year award by the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics. HFHI’s ongoing recognition reflects its dual focus on affordable housing and global poverty-reduction efforts, both of which remain central to its mission.

Habitat for Humanity International continues to expand its global mission through sustainable building practices, community revitalization programs, and wide-ranging volunteer partnerships. Its initiatives—from Women Build and A Brush With Kindness to AmeriCorps service programs and international disaster-recovery efforts—reflect a commitment to affordable housing grounded in local engagement. Recent recognitions, including global awards for its microfinance work and leadership accolades for its executives, underscore HFHI’s enduring role in addressing housing insecurity and strengthening communities worldwide.

Bibliography

Adarkwas, K. K., and R. A. Oppong. "Poverty Reduction Through the Creation of a Livable Housing Environment: A Case Study of Habitat for Humanity International Housing Units in Rural Ghana." Property Management, vol. 25, no. 1, 2006, pp. 7–26, doi:10.1108/02637470710723236. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

“Beyond the House: How Habitat’s Investments Ripple across the Local Economy.” Habitat for Humanity, 2020, www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/Economic_Impact_Report-2020.pdf. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Eriks, Christine, et al. "A Study of the Psycho, Social, and Economic Impact of a US Habitat for Humanity Affiliate." Housing Care and Support, vol. 18, no. 1, 1998, pp. 12–25, doi:10.1108/HCS-07-2014-0018. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

“Habitat for Humanity Helped More Than 3 Million People Build or Improve a Place to Call Home During Past Year.” Habitat for Humanity, 20 Nov. 2024, www.habitat.org/newsroom/2024/habitat-humanity-helped-more-3-million-people-build-or-improve-place-call-home-during. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Haffner, M., et al. "Access and Affordability: Rent Regulation." International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home, 2012, pp. 40-45, doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-047163-1.00209-5. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Jaques, Kiley. “Habitat for Humanity's Largest Net Zero and LEED Platinum Affordable Housing Development.” U.S. Green Building Council, 1 Feb. 2016, www.usgbc.org/articles/habitat-humanitys-largest-net-zero-and-leed-platinum-affordable-housing-development. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

"Nissan and Heisman Trust Partner with Habitat for Humanity to Build a Real ‘Heisman House’ in Nashville." Habitat for Humanity Press Release, 2016, www.habitat.org/newsroom/2016/04-21-Nissan-Heisman-Trust. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

“Our Mission, Vision and Principles.” Habitat for Humanity, www.habitat.org/about/mission-and-vision. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Youngs, Bettie B. The House That Love Built: The Story of Linda & Millard Fuller, Founders of Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing. Hampton Roads, 2007.