Millard and Linda Fuller founded the Habitat for Humanity movement in 1976 in Americus, Georgia. Built on the idea of partnership housing, Habitat for Humanity volunteers gave a hand up to those in need by working side by side with them to build safe, decent and affordable houses.

Koinonia Farm
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.

The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965. They had recently left a successful business and an affluent lifestyle in Montgomery, Alabama to begin a new life of Christian service.

At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of "partnership housing." The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.

The Fund for Humanity
The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called "The Fund for Humanity.” The fund's money would come from the new homeowners' house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.

The Fund for Humanity’s mission statement:
What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited . . . The fund will give away no money. It is not a handout.

Inception of Habitat for Humanity
In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun.

Zaire
In 1973, the Fullers decided to apply the Fund for Humanity concept in developing countries. The Fuller family moved to Mbandaka, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo.) The Fullers' goal was to offer affordable yet adequate shelter to 2,000 people. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program, the Fullers returned to the United States.

Expansion into Habitat for Humanity International
In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born at this meeting. The eight years that followed, vividly described in Millard Fuller's book, "Love in the Mortar Joints,” proved that the vision of a housing ministry was workable. Faith, hard work and direction set HFHI on its successful course.

Phenomenal growth
In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat's ministry brought the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat's work across the nation. HFHI experienced a dramatic increase in the number of new affiliates around the country.

In 1985, the movement spread to Canada with the first Canadian build in Winkler, Manitoba. Two years later, Winnipeg became home to the first Canadian affiliate. Habitat for Humanity in Canada has since grown to 69 affiliates in 10 provinces and two territories and has successfully provided over 2,200 families with safe, decent and affordable housing.

Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 600,000 houses worldwide – providing shelter for more than 3 million people.

Milestones 
Over the past 25 years, Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) has logged more than 10 million volunteer hours, contributing to the successful completion of over 2,200 homes for low-income Canadian families. Internationally, HFHC has helped build thousands more homes.

2011Habitat for Humanity celebrates the 2,000th Habitat home in Canada, built in Winnipeg next to Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg’s 200th home.

ReStores celebrate their 20th year.

2010 Habitat for Humanity in Canada celebrates its 25th anniversary with 72 affiliates, 65 ReStores and almost 1,800 homes built across the country

2009 HFHC launches ReNew It! – a program to improve existing homes through renovations and repairs enabled by volunteer labour and a no-interest homeowner loan

The Right Honourable Edward Schreyer is named to the Habitat for Humanity International Board of Directors

2008 Habitat for Humanity Toronto celebrates 20 years with its 100th home

Canada’s first Energy Star certified Habitat home is built by Habitat for Humanity Wellington County

2007 14 homes completed through Women Build program and seven via Student Build

The Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, then Governor General of Canada, becomes Vice Regal Patron for HFHC

2006 Student Build takes place in Winnipeg with all homes built and funds raised by students

2005 The Global Village program is launched in Canada

70 affiliates, 38 ReStores, and 974 homes

2004 Habitat for Humanity Toronto celebrates the largest town-home project in Canada

Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon hosts the 5th Canadian Women Build

Habitat for Humanity Windsor celebrates ten years of building

2003 Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg celebrates its 100th home and the tenth Cycle of Hope bicycle tour. The Cycle of Hope allows volunteers to enjoy cycling while supporting the Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg’s cause

First Canadian Campus Chapter house built

First ever Royal (The Earl of Wessex/Prince Edward) visit to a Habitat build site

700th home built in Canada

2002 59 affiliates, 25 ReStores, and 600 homes

Pope John Paul II visits Toronto for World Youth Day where youth volunteers of Habitat for Humanity Toronto build a home onsite

2001 HFHC celebrates its 500th home, which was built in London, Ontario

Second Canadian Women Build hosted by Habitat for Humanity Grey-Bruce

2000 52 affiliates, 15 ReStores, and 400 homes

The first Canadian Women Build is hosted by Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region – 200 female volunteers contribute their time and talents

1999  Home for Christmas Blitz holiday build in Coburg, Ontario

1998 Habitat for Humanity passes the 300th home landmark in Canada

First build in Quebec, Habitat homes have been built in all ten provinces

1997 Ten ReStores open nationwide

1996 Canada’s 200th Habitat for Humanity home is built in Moncton, New Brunswick

‘Bike Atlanta ‘96’: 50 cyclists from all over Canada cycle from South-western Ontario to Atlanta, raising more than $200,000 for Habitat for Humanity Canada

1995 25 affiliates, six ReStores, and 146 homes

Building on Faith launches

1994 ESWP: Edward Schreyer Work Project launched by former Governor General of Canada and his wife, Edward & Lily Schreyer

1993 Canada’s 100th Habitat for Humanity home is built in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

First Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) in Canada – Winnipeg (18 homes built) and Waterloo (10 homes built)

1991 World’s first ReStore is opened by Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg with the help of five volunteers

1990 HFHC’s head office is established in Waterloo, Ontario

1989 Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg pioneers the ReStore concept – ReStores are building supply stores that accept and resell quality new and used building materials in an effort to generate funds to support Habitat for Humanity building programs

1987 The first Canadian Habitat for Humanity affiliate is established in Winnipeg, Manitoba

1985 The first Habitat home is built on Canadian soil in Winkler, Manitoba

Inaugural meeting of Habitat for Humanity in Canada