HabiJax

History

Habitat for Humanity traces its roots to the establishment of the Humanity Fund by attorney Millard Fuller, his wife Linda, and Baptist theologian and farmer Clarence Jordan in 1968 at Koinonia Farm, an intercultural Christian intentional community farming community in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. With the funds, 42 homes were built at Koinonia for families in need.

In 1973, the Fullers decided to try the concept at a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) mission in Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo. After three successful years, the Fullers returned to the United States and founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976.

In 2022, in Tempe, Arizona, Habitat for Humanity 3D-printed walls for a house when not enough labor was available.

In March 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation under President Donald Trump froze the group's bank accounts while it investigated them for "possible criminal violations" as part of the administration's broader efforts to criminalize research into climate change. According to the FBI, the violations included the reception of a climate related grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency under President Biden, with all recipients being treated as having committed fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

History

The HabiJax affiliate was founded in 1988 by nine unnamed representatives from congregations in Jacksonville. Initial funding was secured from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. Their first project was a house donated by the South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church that was moved, set up, and rehabilitated for the first HabiJax homeowner family.

Local cooperation

The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour has been a supporter since 1994 and their crew works on several homes each year.

Volunteers include U.S. Navy sailors who volunteer when their ship is in port. Every Thursday, between 10 and 20 sailors from the USS Gettysburg (CG-64) would work on a build site, doing whatever needed to be done.

ReStore

Habitat ReStores are retail outlets that sell new and used building and household materials donated by small businesses, large companies, job sites, contractors, and individuals.

In 2008, HabiJax opened a ReStore on Beach Boulevard with inventory from 40 to 70% below retail prices. Proceeds from ReStores help pay the wages of the employees of Habitat for Humanity and the extra funds for the construction of additional houses in the community. With the success of the first ReStore, HabiJax opened a second outlet on 103rd Street. In 2021, the stores had gross sales of $1,904,575.

Criticism

Cost-effectiveness

Habitat has been criticized for its slow and inefficient rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. An article in the Weekly Standard, a conservative American opinion magazine, questioned the cost-effectiveness of Habitat building projects. To estimate cost effectiveness, the magazine alleged that all costs associated with building a Habitat home must be used, including the cost of volunteer time and training. Habitat affiliates in the region have remained some of the largest homebuilders in their areas and have received numerous awards and acknowledgements for their work in building quality homes.

Partnering with low-income families

Families are required to show an ability to pay for their home in addition to the need for housing. With these requirements, homeless and low-income families may fail to qualify for a Habitat home. Most American Habitat affiliates perform credit checks and criminal record checks on applicants before partnering with them for the construction of a home. Some critics therefore allege that Habitat misrepresents the nature of its work by partnering with families that might be considered nearly "middle-income". To address this, many Habitat affiliates in the United States partner only with families that fall below the government-set "poverty line" for their area. The current poverty rate is measured according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.

Ousting of the founder

The Habitat board investigated Millard Fuller for sexual harassment but found "insufficient proof of inappropriate conduct." Some Fuller supporters claim that the firing was due to a change in corporate culture.