Habitat World Online


The Gooden family lives in Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville's (Fla.) 1,000th house.

Making a Difference, One House at a Time

With affiliates from Alaska to New Zealand busily building houses this season with people in need, truly the sun never sets on Habitat's efforts to eliminate substandard housing. These Notes from the Field celebrate large and small milestones of recent months, acknowledging the impact of changing lives through decent housing, one family at a time.

38: Number of houses built in Jordan.
HFH Jordan, with the assistance of the Mennonite Central Committee, Canadian supporters and local volunteers, has begun work in three communities and anticipates building in a fourth within a year.

40: Number of houses to be built in July during the Uganda International Youth Build.
The Makerere University campus chapter, with other campus chapters in Uganda, is spearheading the event and inviting 500 young people from around the world to participate.

50: Number of houses Poland and Armenia have each contributed to Habitat's house-building totals.
In Armenia, one of the ways Habitat assists families is by helping them complete houses they have already started on their own. In Poland, the average house size for a family of four is 559 square feet.

100: Number of houses built in Romania.
As Romania's concrete block apartment buildings built during the Soviet era deteriorate, the need for decent, affordable housing becomes more urgent. Currently, Habitat is working in four communities in Romania: Beius, Cluj, Pitesti and Radauti.

500: Number of houses built by HFH of Collier County, Fla.
In addition to celebrating the dedication of its 500th house in March, the affiliate also celebrated the designation of Sam and Mary Ann Durso, its president and family services vice president, as Volunteers of the Year in Collier County.

1,000: Number of houses built by HFH of Jacksonville, Fla.
Last September, the affiliate broke ground on its 1,000th house, built in honor of Frank Barker, its much-loved executive director. Sadly, Barker passed away that evening, but his legacy lives on through a memorial college scholarship fund for children of Habitat homeowners.

2,000: Number of houses built throughout Michigan.
The 2,000th house was dedicated in Detroit, where the affiliate has paid special attention to bringing together diverse racial populations in the local community.

1: Number of houses built by Chilton County HFH, a new affiliate in Alabama.
The Clanton Lions Club will assist with construction, and Jim Christensen, board president, reports that every weekend until September is filled with community volunteer groups.

3 hours, 26 minutes, 34 seconds: Total time required to build Bonnie Lilly's Habitat house in Birmingham, Ala.
Led by board member Mark Davis, HFH of Shelby County, Ala., worked 2 1/2 years to set the stage. Then, the Young Contractors Forum of the Associated General Contractors of Alabama set a new world record for speed in building a Habitat house. The secret to their success? Extensive planning, an enormous 200-ton crane to lift the roof assembly onto the walls, and precise, well-built construction that made everything fit the first time.
*Building milestones current as of March 2003.