Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization that helps
low-income people build their own homes. The philosophy of Habitat is that the
economically disadvantaged need capital, not charity and coworkers, not caseworkers, in
order to obtain a decent house in a decent community.
In 1968, Millard Fuller, businessman and lawyer from
Alabama, and Dr. Clarence Jordan, founder of Koinonia Farms in Americus, Georgia, began
work to eliminate substandard housing in Sumter County, Georgia. Determined not to act as
money lender and charge interest when lending to the poor, Koinonia Farms began building
and selling houses to the poor at no profit, no interest in 1968. Rapid building continues
in Sumter County today.
In 1973, Millard and Linda Fuller 
carried
the Koinonia Farms concept to Zaire, Africa, and launched a building program for more than
160 houses. When they returned to the United States in 1976, the Fullers settled in
Americus, Georgia, and created Habitat for Humanity in order to expand their work.
Habitat is still headquartered in Americus, Georgia, and has
more than 1,300 affiliates across the United States. Habitat also operates in 50 countries
around the world.
The Watonwan County Area affiliate was formed by a group of
people who began meeting in 1994. It was officially accepted as an affiliate in November
1995. We have completed three houses in Watonwan County, Minnesota, so far. The
first house was built at 311 2nd St North in St. James. The second house was
built at 22 2nd St NW in Madelia. The 3rd was at 715
Third St North in St. James. The
4th4th
fourth house is at 125 Flanders in Madelia.
The latest house is 1017 5th Ave South in St James, Minnesota.
