habitat for humanity

In 1999, the Lions Clubs International Foundation began a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and committed $12 million to build houses for individuals and families living with physical and mental disabilities. A total of 1,000 homes have been built or approved for construction so far. The program is currently operating on an extension and will last until all of the funding is fully expended. Local Lions clubs have provided funding and volunteers to build Habitat homes in Australia, Canada, Hungary, Kenya, Korea, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Romania and the United States.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor - "sweat equity" - into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, a Georgia Lion, spends one week each year as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity building houses.

Courtesy of Knudsen Photos

Grant applications will be accepted from Lions districts in which one or more clubs in the district has partnered with a Habitat affiliate to build or renovate at least one home for a qualifying disabled person or family with a qualifying disabled member.

Use the search to find your closest Habitat for Humanity affiliates in North Carolina.