Habitat for Humanity reaches milestone: 400,000 homes built or repaired since 1976

More than 2 million people around the world served through better housing

MINNEAPOLIS – Dec. 13, 2010

Minneapolis, Dec. 13, 2010 – Habitat for Humanity surpassed its 400,000 house milestone during its most recent fiscal year. Since the nonprofit organization was founded in 1976, its self-help, hand-up model has resulted in rehabbed, repaired or new housing for more than 2 million people worldwide.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is part of this global effort. Since 1985, Twin Cities Habitat has built, rehabbed or repaired more than 1,800 houses. It has also worked with more than 5,000 families through its Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program. Twin Cities Habitat’s 4-year, $36 million A World of Hope campaign will provide the funds to work with an additional 5,200 Twin Cities families.

Twin Cities Habitat also started the first A Brush with Kindness program in 1998 to do major renovation work for qualified, low-income homeowners. This highly-successful program has now been replicated by more than 200 Habitat for Humanity affiliates worldwide.

“Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is continuing its efforts to help families in need of decent, affordable housing. We are happy to have helped Habitat for Humanity reach this important milestone in bettering communities across the country,” said Susan Haigh, CEO and President of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. “With continued support of our sponsors and volunteers, we’ll address affordable housing needs in the Twin Cities.”

In fiscal year 2010, Habitat for Humanity served a record 74,960 families worldwide through a combination of new construction, rehabilitation and repairs. Habitat also helped an additional 6,355 families establish legal rights to a house or land, and provided more than 46,964 individuals with technical assistance ranging from legal help to construction advice or training.

“We are pleased that even in this difficult economy, Habitat for Humanity has been able to help a record number of families around the world have a better place to live,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Our affiliates are the backbone of Habitat’s efforts. Their hard work and dedication have made this milestone possible. We are grateful for the work of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.”

Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 300,000th home in 2008, its 200,000th home in 2005 and the 100,000th home in 2000. By 2013, Habitat for Humanity hopes to assist 100,000 families worldwide annually with new or improved housing.

Habitat for Humanity International’s fiscal year 2010 annual report, “What We Build,” is now available online at http://www.habitat.org/support/report/default.aspx. The report gives a snapshot of Habitat’s work around the world.