By Shawn Reeves
In August, Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the milestone 200,000th house built since the organization's founding in 1976. Even more important than the houses themselves, however, is the fact that this home will represent decent, affordable shelter for the 1 millionth Habitat family member. And that's something to celebrate, says Habitat for Humanity CEO Paul Leonard.
As important as it is, "a house is walls and floors and a roof, but the people, this family--Koffi Kouassi and Tonya Harper--will make it a home, their home."
In eight days, volunteers and the homeowners will "blitz build" the house in Knoxville, Tenn., and it will symbolize the progress Habitat has made in its fight against poverty and substandard housing around the world. However, as significant as this milestone house is in the history of Habitat for Humanity, so many more families throughout the world suffer every day in deplorable conditions. Consequently, Habitat cannot rest until each family is living in the security and decency of affordable housing.
"This 200,000th house is one way to quantify Habitat's work over almost three decades, and it's emblematic of the hard work and compassion that so many volunteers, donors and homeowners have shared with the organization," Leonard said. "Even more important than the quantity, however, is the quality: the quality of life that has improved for so many Habitat families since we started building 29 years ago.
"Ultimately, it's not so much about the number of houses as it is about the transformation of both Habitat families and volunteers working with our families. Each family has taken the hand up Habitat provides and built a more promising future for themselves. And every volunteer has been enriched by the blessing that comes from giving of themselves."
Recognizing the world's housing need and the drive to enhance the lives of families, Habitat will immediately--24 minutes after dedicating the 200,000th house--dedicate the 200,001st house in Sri Lanka, signifying a renewed commitment to house more families, and, according to Leonard, "beginning our march to the next milestone and fulfillment of our ultimate goal: to erase poverty housing from the planet."
Homeowners Kouassi from the Ivory Coast and Harper work as a cook and an assistant manager at a Goodwill store, respectively, and will occupy the house with their family: Kenny Harper, 20, Folasada Harper, 18, Jeminata Harper, 14, Koffi Houassi, 9, and N'Dah and A'Yah Kouassi, 8-year-old twins.
When asked about what it means to be designated the 200,000th Habitat homeowner, Harper called it a "privilege," thanking Habitat for "selecting my family. May God bless this organization and keep it always."
"Being selected as the site of this monumental build is truly an honor and will be something we as an affiliate, and as a community, will never forget," said Kelle Shultz, executive director for Knoxville Habitat for Humanity. "We are so proud of the work this ministry does and the families it serves. This build proves the mission to eliminate poverty housing transcends borders, languages and cultures."
