Notes: Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

Collegiate Challenge volunteers trim vinyl siding.

Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife, Linda.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners� monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor � sweat equity � into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Habitat for Humanity�s work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates � independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate 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.

Habitat for Humanity International�s operational headquarters, located in Americus, Georgia, USA, and its administrative headquarters, located in Atlanta, Georgia, provide information, training and a variety of other support services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

All Habitat affiliates are asked to �tithe� � to give 10 percent of their contributions to fund house-building work in other nations. Tithing provides much-needed funds for international building, and it also gives affiliates the opportunity to demonstrate the spirit of Christian partnership. In 2001, U.S. affiliates tithed $9.04 million to support Habitat�s work overseas. Some affiliates in developing countries also receive funding grants from Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat is a worldwide, grassroots movement. Habitat has a presence in more than 90 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Devastating natural disasters happen around the world every year. War, conflict and civil unrest also create millions of refugees and internally displaced people. Families left homeless by disasters, and refugees returning to their homelands, face an uncertain future and usually confront dire housing needs as they struggle to rebuild their lives. Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) recognizes the need to provide shelter and housing solutions to help these families recover. The Disaster Response Office (DRO) at HFHI works with the global Habitat community in disaster mitigation, preparedness, shelter and long-term recovery initiatives to address the housing needs that arise from natural disasters and humanitarian emergency conflicts.

The mission of the DRO
The mission of the Disaster Response Office is to develop innovative housing and shelter assistance models that generate sustainable interventions for people vulnerable to or affected by disasters and/or conflicts. The DRO also builds the capacity of the global HFH community in the areas of disaster mitigation, preparedness and recovery through education, training and partnerships.

When disaster strikes, Habitat strikes back. The DRO offers consultation of technical information; program design and implementation; disaster response policies, protocols and procedures; and also provides support and informational resources for disaster mitigation and preparedness for affiliates and national programs located in disaster-prone areas. To date, more than 60,000 families have been served or are being served under different Habitat disaster response initiatives worldwide. By giving the communities the means to rebuild, Habitat has been able to:

Support, empower and work with families in building recovery shelter and housing solutions.

Create new integrated communities.

Develop new Habitat affiliates.

Educate the public on various aspects of shelter and house construction.

Foster partnerships and alliances with businesses, intergovernmental and multilateral organizations, NGOs, churches, and other civil organizations.

Introduce disaster preparedness and mitigation concepts that allow families to protect themselves against future disasters.

• Affiliations, Communities & Organizational Networks