The Kauai Board of Realtors presented Habitat for Humanity Kauai with a $10,000 donation on Thursday at the Kauai Marriott Ballroom. The donation will be used toward the 20-home construction project in Hanapepe that is already underway. “It is a
The Kauai Board of Realtors presented Habitat for Humanity Kauai with a $10,000 donation on Thursday at the Kauai Marriott Ballroom.
The donation will be used toward the 20-home construction project in Hanapepe that is already underway.
“It is a significant donation from the Kauai Board of Directors in choosing Kauai Habitat,” said Charlotte Barefoot, Public Relations Committee Chairman for the Kauai Board of Realtors. “The overall theme has been attainable housing is very important to Kaua‘i. It gives people, who are not very fortunate, the opportunity to get into the housing market.”
The presentation was made as part of the Winter General Membership Meeting for the Kauai Board of Realtors.
“It’s not only a donation but a commitment,” said Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity Treasurer Tito Castillo. “We are committed to building one house on this island per year for the people of Kaua‘i.”
Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 150,000 houses for families in need.
“It is obvious that there are people who have lived here all of their lives that cannot afford to buy a home,” said Laverne Bessert, the Director of Fundraising for the Kauai Habitat for Humanity. “What we are doing is trying to provide homes for people that would not normally qualify for a home today.
“By doing this, we are able to put a roof over their heads for those that would probably still live on the beaches or with their family members.”
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small 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 Christian 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.
“Their vision was to do away with homelessness,” said Bessert. “They wanted to do away with substandard housing. That was the idea.
“This was his (Millard Fuller) mission.
The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, donations and no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The Money in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.
“This organization has built over 80 houses on Kaua‘i in the last seven years,” said Castillo. “That’s more than the entire state of Hawai‘i combined.”
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.
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.
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.
The Results
Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found hope in the form of affordable housing.
Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem, which revolves around a lack of affordable housing.
Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 150,000 houses, sheltering more than 625,000 people in some 3,000 communities worldwide.
“What’s important about this is the pride of ownership that is exhibited by the people that build these houses,” said Castillo. “There is that sweat equity requirement that we call for. When they are building their own homes, they have a great sense of pride.”
