About Us
Habitat for Humanity of Coffee County is an ecumenical Christian housing program dedicated to building quality, energy-efficient homes in partnership with low-income families living in substandard or otherwise unsuitable conditions—families who do not qualify for conventional home loans. Habitat homes are constructed primarily by volunteers working alongside partner families, who contribute their own time and labor into building their future home.
Once completed, the homes are sold to partner families at no profit through a no-interest mortgage. Mortgage payments are recycled into a fund used to help build more homes, creating a cycle of giving and growth right here in our community.
Habitat for Humanity of Coffee County receives no government funding and is not a United Way agency. Our work is made possible solely through generous donations from local businesses, churches, civic organizations, and individuals who believe in our mission.
While Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller in Americus, Georgia, our Coffee County affiliate was established in 1999. Since then, we’ve been serving families throughout Enterprise and the surrounding area with the help of our dedicated volunteers and supporters.
Because we are fully donation-funded and volunteer-driven, we are currently only able to build two to three houses per year, depending on available land and financial resources. As a result, we cannot guarantee a specific time frame for when an approved applicant’s home will be completed—but every build begins with hope and ends with a stronger community.
History
Habitat for Humanity International was founded by Millard & Linda Fuller in 1976.
Their leadership has helped forge Habitat into a worldwide Christian housing ministry.
While in college Millard and a friend started a marketing firm. The business prospered and soon the Fullers were millionaires. But with success and wealth their marriage suffered. This crisis prompted the Fullers to re-evaluate their lives. Their soul-searching led to reconciliation with each other and to a renewal of their Christian commitment.
The Fullers then took a dramatic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions – giving the money to the poor – and to begin searching for a new focus. This search led them to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ’s teachings.
While at Koinonia the Fullers assisted in initiating several partnership enterprises, including a housing ministry. Working from a passage in the Bible that says someone lending money to the poor should not act as a creditor and should not charge interest (Exodus 22:25), they chose to build houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes.
In 1973, the Fullers moved to Africa with their four children to test their housing model overseas. The housing project was a success and became a working reality in Zaire. The Fullers were convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world.
In 1976 they returned to United States and met with community leaders from all over the country and decided to create a new, independent organization: Habitat for Humanity International.
Board of Directors
LaWanda Grill
Executive Director
