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Habitat for Humanity Helping in Hati

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    A look at the mission of organization

  • Duration 6:05
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-- habitat for humanity has been providing families in need with new homes for the past 35 years.

This year the nonprofit organization has been helping the victims of the earthquake that devastated Haiti nearly.

Just last year.

The seven point oh magnitude quake damaged nearly 200000.

Homes in the country completely destroying.

Over a 100000 -- I wife Janet was on the international board of habitat for humanity for years.

-- she's travel the world and throughout America building houses a few weeks ago she joined country superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

As well as former president and mrs.

Jimmy Carter in Haiti to help in the rebuilding efforts.

It's important -- to get police completed this week so that they know.

We're doing what we say we're gonna do it if you can hear a lot of times you're gonna get houses though you're gonna get paid giving him Manning and that is that.

And it never happens.

So you have to build the trust of the people.

-- and habitat for humanity CEO Jonathan -- for joining me now.

-- he didn't Wear the hat today.

The -- was anger and much needed in that heat and that -- of anti.

All right Jonathan let's talk about haven't had a lot of people know of -- and I think Jimmy Carter brought a lot of attention to it but.

Habitat is much.

I guess older than Jimmy Carter's involvement.

But it really is about bringing people into helping others have decent.

Affordable housing very much so thanks might cat habitat strives to put God's love and action by bringing people together to build homes communities and hope.

And now we've done that 500000.

Times around the world in over eighty countries.

And the core of what has made habits as successful as she goes to what people the most common misperception that we give away houses.

I think we we talk about a hand up first -- a handout.

The families actually put hundreds of hours of sweat equity.

In the helping build the homes with the volunteers they have them they have to work on the homes themselves don't think they do and then they have to pay back a very affordable no profit mortgage and their payments stay in the community to help other families have a chance.

-- their dream of having a home.

So it really -- a giveaway program where you just gonna until some houses and turn the keys over and -- hope you enjoy it and whether they take care of it or not.

They have to take care of it because they're paying on it.

They do and and by the time they close on their loans they've put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity they've also gone through financial training.

As well as home management training so that they're fully prepared and that's why even in this terrible housing crisis habitat homeowners who.

Could never qualify for regular mortgage only -- closed at less than 2% even in markets where foreclosure rates were as high as 25 and 30%.

Maybe have a talent take over and Freddie Mac and Fannie -- you guys have a much better record and they have going on right now.

Look -- -- I live with you so I kind of know a little bit about your involvement with habitat.

I guess I'd better.

Appreciate that thank you.

I wonder though did you tell the audience.

Why did you get involved in habit to have what what was it about this ministry and I use that term -- because it is a ministry.

What is it about this ministry that attracted you and that is fulfilling to you.

Well I think another life -- might have been a contractor.

But you know another line I'm not sure but another.

Game down here you're the only about 1037 and a half years I'm very proud of that.

OK.

Started nearly fifteen years ago at a Jimmy Carter -- project in Houston Texas -- about would've taken that experience.

I would've never -- that because it was a horrible experience with the weather in the heat.

But I loved it would do it again tomorrow and it's something that one lady put in perspective for me when we gave -- the keys to the house.

She -- you have raised my top ten.

You when you look at that and think of how many track tanks 500000.

That we have lifted off of people's shoulders and given them an opportunity to -- live in safe and secure housing.

-- we just have to ask you know that over this next period Thanksgiving and Christmas coming -- -- can only rallies.

And when I think about like that it -- -- ministry to me and makes it.

More worthwhile.

Jonathan this recent trip that you guys into Haiti the carters were involved even though they're in their eighties they -- -- and work every day and and I think it's remarkable they don't just get on their for the photo -- And Garth and Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood one of the things it was reported back that they go out there and just work and they serve food.

It was you know I think in both cases there's wonderful examples servant leadership this is the sixth time I've spent a week with a cart is building somewhere in the world and they work unbelievably hard and it's now been 28 years.

Where they have come out and -- for a week somewhere and that.

The first time ever built -- Garth and -- which is a great -- and not what you expect from superstars they stayed help clean up the work site at the end of the build day and now I think that's a great sign of character.

Well I've often said that I would never spend the night -- -- house I helped build -- because I'm pretty inept when it comes to tools Janet can actually roof and -- -- -- you know finish out sheet rock and all the stuff that a person does to build a house.

Is there a role for people who are.

Utterly incapable of physically building a house with evidence.

You know there are all sorts of of roles I think another of those misperceptions is the only way to help -- to come do construction we desperately need people who.

Can mentored and our partner families who can do training who can that help raise funds who can help with the that complexity of running and and advocating for good housing in their communities so there are lots of ways to get involved.

Well it's great to have -- -- here I think very appropriately on Thanksgiving weekend and a lot of people are taking for granted that they have a home.

There are many people across the world that are sleeping either under the stars not to camp out the because they don't have anything else and habitat.

Makes it possible for people to have affordable housing and the pass it on to others Jonathan record and Janet.

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