What is Habitat for Humanity International?
Habitat for Humanity is the vision of Millard Fuller, who in 1969 as a
30-year old millionaire, took Jesus' word seriously, sold what he had, was
and still is dedicated to actively changing problems of poverty and racism.
Being appalled by the substandard homes that poor whites and
African-Americans lived in, he began to apply the skills that made his
millions and the faith that drove his life to working with (not for) the
poor so all could have decent housing. By 1976 Habitat for Humanity was
organized and continues to grow today all over the world. Home base is
Americus, Georgia.
Habitat for
Humanity is a non-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry
which seeks to eliminate poverty housing around the world by bringing divers
groups of people together to work toward a common goals. They leave behind
their differences and agree to "hammer" as an instrument of God. So often so
much more gets built than a house.
Habitat for
Humanity holds the mortgage on the homes build and new Habitat
homeowners pay their no-interest loans back for the construction of future
homes. "Sweat equity" requires the home buyers to work with Habitat
volunteers for hundreds of hours on the construction of their new homes and
other Habitat homes. This is a hand up not a handout program. The family
Nurturing Committee aids and supports the new homeowners with budgeting,
maintenance, or any other areas of concern.
Habitat for
Humanity is a grass-roots movement. Concerned citizens organize
local Habitat for Humanity affiliates such as ours in Carbondale. Affiliates
direct and control their local Habitat building projects. Each affiliate is
responsible for fundraising, family selection, house construction and more.
Habitat has active affiliate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
more than 40 nations worldwide.
Habitat for
Humanity does not accept government funds for the construction of
new houses or for the renovation or repair of existing homes. Habitat does
accept government funds for the acquisition of land or houses in need or
rehabilitation. Habitat also accepts government funds for streets, utilities
and administrative expenses, so long as the funds have no conditions that
would violate Habitat's principles or limit its ability to proclaim its
Christian witness.
Jackson-Union
County Habitat for Humanity
Our local affiliate was
founded in 1989 by a small but dedicated group of individuals. Since then
we have completed the restoration or building of 13 homes in the cities of
Alto Pass, Carbondale, Cobden and Murphysboro, Illinois. At this time,
groundbreaking has occurred on our 14th project, a new house at
306 E. Chestnut Street in Carbondale. A site has also been secured in
Murphysboro, located at 2120 Roblee Street. We are actively engaged in
locating several new building lots or existing homes for renovation,
especially in Union County.
In the past we have
completed an average of about 1 project per year.
Our goal now is to increase our ministry so that, over the next few years,
we will be completing a total of 5 projects every year. The
challenges resulting from this goal means we will need many helping hands of
all skill levels and from all walks of life. If you’d like to help us meet
this challenge in any way, please contact me or any of the officers listed
on the Volunteer page of this website. Alternatively, you can fill out and
submit the Volunteer Interest Survey form by clicking on the link located
throughout this website.
Lee E. Brackett, President
lee@brackettinsurancegroup.com
