There is more more to a home than simply a roof over our head. Most of us associate our life, our family and our hopes with our home. For those who can choose where they live, the safety of their family is something that we take for granted. We make our choices on the basis of the best schools, recreation, access to good roads and a host of other criteria. But a great many people can never hope that any of those decisions would be ever theirs. For a single mom with children, the hope of ever owning a home is not within the realm of possibility.
Habitat for Humanity was started in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller in Americus, Georgia. It is an international, ecumenical, Christian organization dedicated to the dream of eliminating poverty and homelessness. The Fullers discovered the idea of helping needy families through a social experiment developed on the Koinonia Farm, a Christian farming community founded in 1942. It was based on the idea that people did not need a hand out, but capital and guidance to get a new start. At the heart of the idea was “The Fund for Humanity”.
What the poor need is not charity, but capital; not caseworkers, but co-workers. What the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity met both of these needs. Money for the fund comes from two sources. Donations are given by those who feel they have more than they need. The other is from non-interest bearing loans, for those who cannot afford to make a gift, but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited. . . The fund does not give away any money. It is not a handout.
Based on this philosophy Habitat for Humanity has built or rehabilitated 150,000 houses. In our community, Habitat is just getting started. The North Collin County chapter of Habitat for Humanity has now completed 21 homes and has plans for 5 more this year. Each recipient of a new home is required to pay for their house, with their own labor (sweat equity) and monthly payments on a no interest mortgage. Habitat houses are simple and inexpensive, built with donated labor, and in many cases, donated materials.
For more information, visit their website. 
