Subscribe to Habitat for Humanity's Newsroom E-mail List -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1

1965–1976 Timeline: Beginnings

1942–1964 | 1965–1976 | 1977–1983 | 1984–1989 | 1990–1992 | 1993–1995 | 1996–1997 | 1998–2000 | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011–Present

Beginnings Previous | Next

Millard and Linda Fuller seek the simple lifestyle of Koinonia Farm and together with Clarence Jordan develop the partnership housing model. The Fullers later apply this model to found the Habitat for Humanity International ministry.

"Partnership housing" is based on the idea that those in need of adequate shelter work side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses. The houses are built with no profit added. Building is financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity.


1968	The Fund for Humanity is created.
1969	The first partnership house is completed in Sumter County, Georgia.
1973	Millard and Linda Fuller move from Koinonia, taking the principles of Partnership Housing and the Fund for Humanity to Africa.
1976	The Fullers return from Africa, and Habitat for Humanity is formed with headquarters in Americus, Georgia.
	Construction begins on the first house in San Antonio, Texas, Habitat's first affiliate.
	The first partnership houses are completed in Zaire.

Simple, decent, affordable housing