2005: A Milestone Year for Habitat
Habitat for Humanity is about to finish building its 200,000th house in Knoxville, Tennessee -- a feat that took nearly 30 years to achieve -- but according to the global nonprofit's chief executive, that's just the beginning.
"We have much to celebrate, but we have more to build," said Paul Leonard Habitat's CEO.
The completion of these homes “mark another milestone in the journey to Habitat’s goal of ending poverty housing as a humanitarian issue, making sure that everyone everywhere has a safe and decent place to lay down their heads at night,” said Leonard.
It took Habitat for Humanity 24 years to build 100,000 homes and amazingly, it took just five years to build the next 100,000 homes. At this rate, Habitat for Humanity gives a family in need their new home somewhere in the world every 24 minutes. The celebration also brings with it another milestone: the millionth person to call a Habitat house his home.
“For now we celebrate, 100,000 more houses, 100,000 more families, and 10 times that the number of lives changed by their experience with Habitat,” said Leonard. “However, we must always think in context with the global problem and how our future success depends not only on what we can accomplish alone, but what we must accomplish with the help of others.”
Two of the three goals of Habitat’s More Than Houses campaign have now been achieved. The campaign is a five-year effort to raise $500 million, to build an additional 100,000 homes, and to reach into 100 countries by the end of this year. Habitat achieved the 100-country goal in June 2004, will be completing the building of an additional 100,000 homes with the Knoxville project, and will achieve the $500 million goal by the end of this year.
Those who helped make the milestone celebration possible are Whirlpool, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Lowe’s, the DIY Network and Citigroup, according to Habitat.
“We are proud to be a part of Habitat's celebration of housing one million people worldwide,” said Ted Dosch, corporate vice president and controller of Whirlpool. “In 2000, Whirlpool joined the More than Houses Campaign and today remains Habitat's largest supporter of this campaign. To be a part of the last 100,000 Habitat homes has been inspirational. Habitat has become a part of our DNA.”
“Thrivent Financial is proud to join with other companies in underwriting this historic house build,” said Bruce Nicholson, president and CEO, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “Decent, affordable housing is the foundation of economic security for most people, and Habitat’s work has gone far in building this foundation for one million people worldwide.”
Robyn Ulrich, senior vice president of marketing for DIY, said, “It's an honor that the 200,000 home will be built in Knoxville, which is home to DIY Network and our owner, Scripps Networks. We've pursued a national public affairs partnership with Habitat for several years, and each year we're more amazed at the impact the organization makes on communities around the globe.”
Tonya Harper, her husband Koffi Kouassi and their children - Kenny Harper, 20, Folasada Harper, 18, Jeminata Harper, 14, Koffi Harper, 9, N’Dah and Ayah Harper, eight-year-old twins - are Habitat’s 200,000th family. The eight-year old twins share the honor of being Habitat’s millionth person sheltered in simple, decent housing. In India, Michel, his wife, Vivatha, and their five children will live in Habitat’s 200,001st house. Michel is a fisherman.
On August 6, a one-week blitz will kick off, and building of the 200,000th home will begin. A team from India will travel to Knoxville to help build the 200,000th home and a group from Knoxville will travel to India to help build the 200,001st home.
The 200,001st home will be built in Kanyakumari, at the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula. There was extensive damage from the December 26, 2004, tsunami, but fortunately, no lives were lost there. Habitat for Humanity has repaired 105 houses and is replacing structural components on 28 more.
“As we look back over nearly 30 years of Habitat history, we have much to be proud of,” said Leonard. “But there are more families out there who need the help Habitat provides and many partners, volunteers and others who stand ready to be a part of our progress. We have much to celebrate, but we have much more to build.”
