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when and why was habitat For humanity
formed and where does it operate?
Habitat For Humanity is a global, not-for-profit organisation with
a mission to provide families in need with a home, by providing
partnering families with simple, decent and affordable homes. The
organisation was established in 1976 in the USA and since this time
has built 300,000 homes in over 90 countries globally.
Habitat For Humanity was established in Australia in 1988 and
provides home ownership to needy families through its network of
affiliates located in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia,
Queensland and Western Australia.
Habitat For Humanity Australia (HFHA) also raises funds to help
build homes across the Asia-Pacific (500 homes this year) and
supplies volunteer labour with the help of volunteer teams from
universities, high schools, corporations, churches, community and
social groups and other inspiring individuals.
what structure does the organisation take
and how does it achieve its aims?
Habitat For Humanity australia:
Each office is run by inspiriting staff and volunteers with a contagious
enthusiasm to help needy families in Australia and across the Asia
Pacific region. The way we do that in Australia is by building brand
new homes under a unique and self-sustainable home ownership
model which provides self empowerment and a hand up, not a hand
out to Australian families in need.
Each state affiliate chooses families to build houses for based on
their need for a new house, their ability to repay an affordable, often
interest-free, mortgage and their willingness to work 500 `sweat
equity' hours in partnership with HFHA. The model is a unique
solution to the housing affordability crisis.
HFHA volunteers are sourced through both corporate organisations
and volunteers in the general public. Key corporate sponsors include
QBE Lenders Mortgage Insurance, Orica and Origin Energy.
Under supervision, volunteers work on the construction of the homes
alongside the partner families on a Habitat build. Partner families also
undertake training in basic home maintenance and household financial
management to help them on their way to successful home ownership.
In this way, partnering families are given a hand up, not a hand out.
Habitat For Humanity Internationally:
Habitat For Humanity also helps rebuild disaster affected communities
around the world. It is one of the largest non-government builders of
long-term housing following the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina
and the recent earthquakes in Pakistan and Yogyakarta.
Habitat For Humanity's Global Village Program provides volunteers
a unique opportunity to become active partners with people of
another culture. Team members work alongside members of the host
community building decent, affordable housing worldwide.
HFHA coordinates teams travelling to countries in the Asia Pacific
such as Fiji, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and the Philippines to
build affordable homes for low income families in need. Participants
fund their own costs plus a donation to the host country.
what is the main focus for habitat For
humanity and what are some of its current
initiatives, programs and projects?
There is a crisis largely unrecognised in affordable housing in both
the general community and indigenous communities across Australia,
as well as in the Asia-Pacific region.
HFHA has a number of initiatives both domestically and
internationally, including:
domestically:
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Bidwill Blitz Build - Recently HFHA (HFH NSW) took up the
monster challenge of building two new homes in just 12 days, in
Bidwill, in western Sydney.
The Bidwill Blitz Build, launched on Monday 16 November and
saw sponsors and volunteers come together to help build two safe
and affordable new homes in less than a fortnight, for the Hart and
Webeck families.
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the chosen charity for Homebake Festival 2009 - HFHA is the
chosen charity for Homebake 2009, Australia's home grown music
festival.
In the lead up to Homebake on Saturday, 5th December 2009
and during the festival itself, the partnership will give HFHA the
opportunity to encourage more Australians to volunteer or contribute
to assist in the mission of providing affordable housing to more
families in need.
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Lending a helping hand to Victorian bushfires victims - After
the devastating 2008 Victorian bushfires, HFHA lent a helping hand to
the communities devastated by the Victorian bushfires by partnering
with authorities and families in need and providing `tool libraries' for
the local communities to start the process of rebuilding their lives and
a `brush with kindness' programme was launched to undertake minor
works such as painting and the clearing of debris and fallen trees.
Internationally:
In HFHA volunteers help those in need internationally each year by
dedicating their time to building homes for communities across the
globe. Key activities include:
For
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FeeLS LIKe HOMe
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SPOtLIgHt ON
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Habitat For Humanity's global Village Programme - HFHA
offers volunteers the opportunity to take part in the `hands-on'
construction or renovation of houses in more than 40 countries around
the world.
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International disaster relief - HFHA along with its global
affiliates responds to international disasters by providing relief and
helping to build new homes and temporary shelters.
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Jimmy and roslyn Carter - Launched in November 15 2009,
volunteers have just finished building alongside former U.S. President
and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn,
to help over 150 families in Southeast Asia in desperate need of a
place they can call home. More than 2,000 volunteers from around
the globe participated in the annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work
Project (JRCWP) in the Mekong Delta.
Volunteers have the opportunity to experience a unique hands-on
approach, to build communities, provide essential access to clean
water as well as training on financial security that will last long after
the initial work has been completed on the week-long build.
how has habitat For humanity been
involved in the recent major international
disaster relief efforts?
Habitat For Humanity along with its global affiliates, has pledged to
assist families affected by the recent series of natural disasters across
the Asia Pacific region. Between October and December 2009, Habitat
For Humanity has pledged to work with 2,5000 families to help build
new homes in Indonesia as well as distributing temporary shelter kits
to 2,000 beneficiaries benefiting 400 families in the Philippines, along
with the distribution of safe drinking water and food kits for 4,000
beneficiaries.
Habitat For Humanity is continuing to rally its troops and calling on
volunteers and supporters to help our neighbouring countries; pulling
together resources and experience on the ground to assist families
devastated by the disaster.
The organisation will also help thousands more victims over
time through partnerships with local authorities and other non-
government organisations by rebuilding schools and other destroyed
community facilities in countries such as Indonesia, Samoa, Vietnam
and Philippines.
Habitat For Humanity's unique disaster relief strategy will implement
long term housing solutions that look to protect lives and property
against future catastrophes as well as providing temporary relief.
Based on experience from past projects, Habitat For Humanity, who
were one of the biggest not-for-profit organisations to drive recovery
after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, will implement a community-
based disaster response plan with village leaders, the local Indonesian
community and volunteers working together to rebuild communities
and lives.
where is habitat For humanity heading and
what does the future hold?
I have recently come into the role of CEO at HFHA and am keen to
build on the organisation's mission to provide affordable housing
for families in need; and have a vision to continue to grow the
organisation and drive its innovative home ownership model, both in
Australia and across the Asia-Pacific.
More than focusing on individual needs, HFHA's unique model works
with communities across Australia and the Asia Pacific region to
create lasting change. This is the right time for HFHA and given our
far reaching initiatives both locally and internationally, we are in an
ideal position to help.
HFHA is an organisation that does amazing work through the
generosity of donors, our volunteers and sponsors. With their
continued support we can help even more families in both Australia
and overseas achieve their dream of home ownership. n
want to know more?
For further information or to make a donation or become a HFHA
volunteer please visit www.habitat.org.au or call 1800 88 55 99.
Habitat