History: How I got where I am....

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is an International non-profit organization that builds "simple, decent, and affordable" housing for low income families all over the world. It is a Christian organization that was started in Georgia in 1976. What started as a small program to help families in Georgia has expanded to encompass the entire world with 5 major offices that service the United states and Canada; Africa and the Middle East (located in South Africa); Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand); Europe and Central Asia (Bratislava, Slovakia); and South America (San Jose, Costa Rica).

The Mission of Habitat is to "eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action."

Homes are built using mostly volunteer labor that includes "sweat-hours" that are required for the new homeowner. (typically 500 hours on their home or on future projects in the community)

The finished homes are sold to families who meet the requirements of the organization which include being below the poverty line of their area, having the means to pay for the home, and passing required background checks.

Habitat owners pay no interest on their non-profit mortgages. The mortgage payments made are used to fund future projects in the community. The goal of this is to have the payments made from one home build another home of the same design.

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 400,000 houses worldwide that shelter over 1.75 million people on more than 5 continents.

This program not only helps families in poor situations but also brings together a community. The project here in Orem had students from UVU, Military Officers from the Navy office, and young men from the Genesis youth camp. Very few organizations that I know of get that type of spectrum of volunteers willing to help.

9/11 Memorial in NYC

Taken 9/30/2011