of sweat equity, no interest, no profit, volunteer-driven construction-one house, one family at a time-in every corner of the world. Today Habitat is completing a house somewhere in the world every 26 minutes (20,000 per year). Habitat also attempts to make housing a matter of conscience everywhere. Habitat wants everyone to understand that it is morally and socially unacceptable for any human being not to have a simple, decent place to sleep at night.
Yet, all is not well in the Habitat household. In late 2004, Habitat's founder Millard Fuller was forced out of his job by the board of directors of the Christian homebuilding ministry. The announcement that Fuller was stepping down came near the end of a tumultuous year for Fuller and the Americus, Georgia based organization that he co-founded in 1976 with his wife, Linda. The year included allegations against Fuller by a female employee of inappropriate behaviour and a struggle concerning the organization's future.
The shakeout, now apparently complete, could affect Habitat for years. It is developing a five-year strategic plan which will likely call for an acceleration of home building and increase of operating reserves, officials said. Habitat created a search committee to find Fuller's replacement, comprised of current and former board members, representatives of Habitat affiliates and honorary chair, former President Jimmy Carter.
Part memoir, part history of Habitat, and part expose, Leonard's book provides a glimpse into the shattered world of an organization built on the trust of the recipients of its labours.
