Habitat for Humanity founders

Millard and Linda Fuller, founders of Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International (also "Habitat for Humanity", or just "Habitat") is an international, ecumenical Christian, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing. Homes are built using volunteer labor and are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. The organization was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Millard and Linda Fuller, whose vision grew out of their experiences at Koinonia Farm. The international headquarters located in Americus serves to support and promote the activities of local, independent affiliate chapters, who initiate and manage all construction, mortages, and homeowner selection.

By 2004 Habitat had built 50,000 houses in the U.S. and over 175,000 around the world, with Habitat groups working in over 100 countries. Although headquartered in the United States, two thirds of Habitat construction takes place around the rest of the world. It is predicted that Habitat for Humanity International will have built housing for one million people by 2005.

On August 4th, 2005, Habitat announced the selection of a new Chief Executive Officer for the organization, former president of stores of Musicland and executive pastor of the Edina, Minnesota Christ Presbyterian Church, Jonathan Reckford.

Sexual harassment accusations against the founder
Habitat's founder, Millard Fuller, and his wife were fired by the Habitat board of directors on January 31, 2005, after he was accused of "suggestive comments and inappropriate touching" towards a female employee during a ride to the Atlanta airport in 2003. Prior to Fuller's termination, attempts were made by former President Jimmy Carter to broker an agreement that would allow Fuller to retire with his $79,000 salary intact; when Fuller was found to have violated the non-disclosure portion of this agreement, he was subsequently fired. A number of former employees and associates of Fuller came forward during this period to reveal prior allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment. In 1990 and 1991, five women, both current and former employees, told the board of directors of unwanted sexual harassment.

Fuller and many of his supporters maintain that his earlier actions were misinterpreted, and that the most recent allegations are false. He has also expressed a belief that differences of opinion between himself and the board over the future direction of Habitat's activities — with Fuller supporting further expansion throughout the world, and the directors emphasizing a need to consolidate and focus activities in existing countries — are the real source of his removal. In response to his dismissal from the project he founded, Fuller has established the Fuller Center for Housing, which aims to work directly with local Habitat affiliates and other organizations, without involving the international headquarters.