The idea that became Habitat for Humanity first grew from the fertile soil of Koinonia Farm, a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan.
On the farm, Jordan and Habitat’s eventual founders Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. The houses would be built at no profit. New homeowners’ house payments would be combined with no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fundraising to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more homes.
Beau and Emma were the owners of the first home built by Koinonia’s Partnership Housing Program. They and their five children moved into a concrete-block home with a modern kitchen, indoor bathroom and heating system, replacing the unpainted, uninsulated shack with no plumbing where they had previously lived.
In 1973, the Fullers decided to take the Fund for Humanity concept to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program there, the Fullers then returned to the United States and called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream: Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976.
The times have changed, the build site locations have grown in number, but the very real change that Beau and Emma’s family experienced is shared by families today who partner with Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home. Thanks in no small part to the personal involvement of U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn and the awareness they have raised, Habitat now works in all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries and has helped more than 35 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.
a world where everyone has a decent place to live
The seed for the Habitat for Humanity of Craven County NC was planted locally in 1987. Jeff Vaughn, an area builder, organized Habitat for Humanity in New Bern because he saw firsthand the number of people in need of safe, affordable housing. Jeff used his connections in the construction, social services and banking industries along with many other concerned members from the community to form Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Bern in 1989.
The name was changed to Habitat for Humanity of Craven County NC in 2009, expanding our services throughout the county. The hard work and dedication of volunteers and supports has enabled Habitat for Humanity of Craven County to help more than 70 families realize their dream of purchasing a decent, affordable home. Today, Habitat for Humanity of Craven County has expanded to include a robust homebuyer education program and other community educational initiatives; a neighborhood revitalization program focusing on critical repairs, weatherization, and aging-in-place to create sustainable and healthy housing for existing homeowners; and a ReStore located in downtown New Bern.
In accepting and rejecting applications, Habitat for Humanity of Craven County must conform to all aspects of the Fair Housing Act and all Fair Housing Laws, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Privacy Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as any local applicable laws as they apply to applications for a mortgage.