Habitat for Humanity Has Built More than 200,000 Low-Cost Homes Since 1976. In the 1960s, a Georgia couple named Beau and Emma lived in an unpainted, uninsulated shack with no indoor plumbing or electricity. Some folks who lived in a nearby religious-oriented community, Koinonia Farm, developed a concept called “partnership housing.” They wanted to build Beau and Emma a new home.

The idea was for local people to supply the free “sweat equity” to build the home. Money for materials was obtained by fundraising, and the house would be built for no profit. The buyer would get a no-interest loan and then make low, affordable payments. That money from payments would be ploughed back into the fund so that more homes could be built.

To continue reading, please visit Sarah Laud's charity blog!