If Not Now, Then When? Housing Providers Answer the Call
By Milana McLead

T he challenge is clear: More affordable housing units are required to meet the increasing needs of America's low-income families. And soon.

Some 5.3 million households face "worst case" housing problems in this country. These problems can include no running water, no flush toilet and no electricity and/or heating equipment, in addition to water leaks, holes in the floors or ceilings, peeling paint, broken plaster and rodent infestation. Housing and social service agencies are sounding the alarm: The plight of the poor belongs to all.


For some 24 years, Habitat for Humanity has been working to shelter the world's poorly housed. Since its inception, the organization has reached into 64 countries, organized nearly 2,000 affiliates worldwide, mobilized millions of volunteers, built more than 85,000 houses and sheltered more than 425,000 family members around the world.

In September, HFHI plans to dedicate its 100,000th house. Recognizing that there is far more to be done, Habitat for Humanity now embarks on its most ambitious plan yet: a goal of building its next 100,000 houses by the end of 2005 -- in one-fifth the time it took to build the first 100,000 houses.

Building houses is a calling for Habitat. "It demonstrates that, while the [poverty] housing problem is huge, it is not impossible to solve," says Millard Fuller, founder and president of HFHI. "What it takes is organization, dedication and focused, faith-filled action."

Likewise, there are others who are answering the call to build, including the National Association of Home Builders.

The association -- representing more than 60,000 builders nationwide -- recently entered a landmark partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to build 1 million new, affordable houses over the next 10 years.

Initially, the national initiative will focus on 14 pilot cities across the United States: Baltimore, Md.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Houston, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Sacramento, Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.; San Antonio, Texas; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington D.C. Each of these cities will initiate innovative approaches to help reduce barriers to new construction and foster creative relationships with home builders and the home-building industry.

By all accounts, the time to build is now.

"It is our spirit of community that has made this nation strong: our belief that we are all interconnected and interrelated," wrote HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo in a recent editorial. "If we don't act now, then when?"


Milana McLead is editor of Habitat World.



Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, February/March 2000.
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©2000 Habitat for Humanity International