The History of Habitat
Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 400,000 houses with families in need, becoming a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing.
The first Habitat house in Kuching, 1999
Habitat for Humanity Malaysia
In 1998, Area Vice President, Rick Hathaway, came to Kuching and brought the message of Habitat’s work. The vision and works of HFH was shared with Pastor John Chin who in turn shared it with the First Baptist Church. In order to understand the spirit of Habitat’s work, International Partner Pat Foley suggested to actually find out more by going on a volunteer trip. Pastor John Chin led Pastor Richard Sim, Chiew Chung Yee, Sim Chai Say, George Chong, Chai Vui Yu and Woon Nam Hua went on the first GV build to Hatton HFH in Sri Lanka in Oct 1998. It was history in the making.
Habitat for Humanity Malaysia opened its doors in October 1998. The Kuching Affiliate office was set up on 1 February 1999 and Pastor John Chin served as the 1st President. The first house was built and completed in November 1999 and Area Vice President, Rick Hathaway came for the dedication.
Five years later in 2004 an office opened up in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah by Allen Tong who heard Millard Fuller speak in the USA and felt moved to open an office in his home state. In 2005 another office opened in Kuala Lumpur which is now home to the National Office and the National Board of Trustees.
Koinonia Farm and the Fund for Humanity
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian farming community founded in 1942 outside of Americus, Ga., by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965, having recently left a successful business in Montgomery, Ala., and all the trappings of an affluent lifestyle to begin a new life of service. At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of "partnership housing" where those in need of adequate shelter would work side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.
The houses would be built with no profit added and no interest charged. Building would be financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund's money would come from the new home owners' house payments, donations and 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.
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 born.
Habitat for Humanity International
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. In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) as an organization was born at this meeting.
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.