Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization that provides houses for families around the world. In the United States alone, 33 million Americans live below the official poverty line (Chiras, 2003, p. 51). The immediate need for low-cost housing should be obvious to us all. Habitat for Humanity is hard at work, targeting those 10% of Americans and countless citizens of the world that live in poverty (Chiras, 2003, p. 51).
At work on a build with Habitat for Humanity, one should expect some backbreaking work, some glorious scenery, people from all walks of life and ultimately, a gratifying experience that cannot, I believe, be found in any other sort of work. For these reasons, one particular aspect of Habitat for Humanity that must be improved is its scope and reach. Though Habitat for Humanity is a large, influential organization, I do not believe that it has yet become as pervasive as it couldùand shouldùbecome. By this, I suggest that the Habitat for Humanity must work harder to cull members and volunteers from those reserves in society that are most sympathetic to the sort of work that is done by the organization.
According to the Habitat for Humanity International website, since 1976 more than 150,000 houses in the US and around the world have been built that otherwise would never have existed (2004). At work in some 92 countries, Habitat for Humanity expects that by 2005, Habitat houses will shelter 1 million people (Habitat for Humanity Int'l, 2004). Habitat homeowner families reflect an extraordinary diversity of race, as well as a wide variety of religious backgrounds and occupations (Graydon, 2003, pp. 226). Furthermore, the age range of volunteers working at Habitat for Humanity ranges from the mid-teens to the late 70s, and many have made the mission of the Habitat a personal mission as well (Zurla, 2003, pp. 14)
Given the above, how could it be that Habitat f...