What is Habitat for Humanity?

Social IssuesRelationship

  • Author Claire Twomey
  • Published June 17, 2010
  • Word count 503

We live in a country which has been built upon the backs of a predominantly individualistic society. Personal growth and success have become fundamental objectives in the struggle to achieve the American dream. As Americans, we are expected to compete for a taste of success, and this type of competition often means stepping on one’s opponents to get to the top.

There is one organization, however, which offers a look into the compassion and empathy within the American heart. Habitat for Humanity began back in 1976 when a couple from Georgia, Millard and Linda Fuller, decided to devote their lives to assisting less fortunate members of the community. The program began as an ecumenical Christian program, but has extended to include volunteers from every background, race, and creed. Simply put, Habitat for Humanity is a place in which a variety of people to come together to assist in the building of homes for the less fortunate.

The Habitat of Lakeland was founded in 1990, and is among the 1,700 Habitat affiliates throughout America. Currently, the Lakeland team has made housing mortgages affordable for 91 families (and counting). Funding comes into the Habitat for Humanity program through a multitude of donors, whether they are corporate, individual, or faith-based. Then, volunteers come together to perform the manual labor necessary to provide homes for low income families.

There is much more to the program than simply building houses for those in need. Habitat for Humanity aims to uplift the spirits and morale of the community at large. The volunteering of time, energy, and resources brings a community of dreamers together to form a team which can only be described as altruistic. Alarmingly, there are over 100 million homeless people throughout the world. However, knowing that a program such as this exists to make a dent in that horrifying statistic is both encouraging and inspirational.

Volunteers who build for the program are supervised by trained professionals. A large chunk of the program can be found in branches throughout America; however, there are also international branches. Essentially, the program has become a global phenomenon, and has assisted in improving the quality of life for numerous families. The Fund for Humanity’s mission statement indicates that the poor need assets and the rich need an effective way of giving back to the community. Therefore, this program effectively meets the needs of both parties without “giving money away” or implementing handouts.

Ultimately, the program has resulted in the formation of over 300,000 homes, effectively housing more than 1.5 million people throughout the world. Slowly but surely, our individualistic culture is showing definite signs of a shift towards collectivism. Fundamentally, the program has a place for everyone to contribute in some way. Individuals with an abundance of assets may contribute through donation, and people who cannot afford to donate may offer their time as a building or coordinating volunteer. In any case, there is a place for people from all walks of life to become involved in a program which is aimed solely at catalyzing human happiness.

Habitat for Humanity is non profit organization working with Churches and businesses in Central Florida, Polk County area to build and renovate habitat homes for families in need. For details visit http://www.habitatoflakeland.org

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