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History of Habitat for Humanity, InternationalInitially, Habitat for Humanity was little more than an exciting idea in the minds of two unusual men - the late Clarence Jordan and Millard Fuller. In the early 40's Clarence Jordan helped develop a cooperative Christian community near Americus, Georgia. Difficult times plagued the group, organized in the belief that Christianity requires a social conscience as well as a spiritual dimension. They also believed that race does not divide people in God's sight. Meanwhile, a highly successful businessman named Millard Fuller, was experiencing the personal costs of becoming a millionaire before age 30. With his health, marriage, and religious foundation failing, he gave everything away to work with those less fortunate. In the late 60's Jordan and Fuller came together to begin a mutual dream of "partnership housing." Their basic premise was, "what the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers." In September of 1976, Fuller called together a group of committed Christians to discuss the future of this dream. Habitat for Humanity as an organization was born at this meeting. If you would like to visit Habitat for Humanity's International web site, please click here. (Link opens in a new window.)Habitat for Humanity of Ontario County |
