[25 February 2010] -- The Cities Alliance is pleased to welcome Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) as a new member of the partnership.
Established in 1976, HFHI is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness from the world and, through education, make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
HFHI provides innovative affordable housing solutions by various means, including: housing microfinance and incremental building solutions; slum upgrading; water, sanitation, and construction technical assistance; financial literacy; building resource centres; and other affordable programmes. In collaboration with other housing providers and interest groups, HFH also engages communities to take a stand against poverty and substandard housing.
“The Cities Alliance is delighted to welcome Habitat for Humanity International as our newest member. We will benefit enormously from HFHI’s many years of experience, its presence in countries all over the world, and from its unique advocacy role,” said Cities Alliance Programme Manager, William Cobbett.
In 2009 alone, HFHI built, repaired or renovated approximately 60,000 homes through direct service provision, positively impacting the lives of 300,000 people. It also mobilises more than one million volunteers globally each year through advocacy and volunteer efforts.
HFHI is a federated organisation that has operated in over 100 countries, with a global network of nearly 2,000 local community-based organisations (CBOs). All of these CBOs are separate, independently run, grass-roots organisations with local boards of directors and staff.
The Cities Alliance Consultative Group approved HFHI’s application to join the partnership at its annual meetings in Mumbai, India 19-22 January 2010. HFHI is the second non-governmental organisation to join the Cities Alliance. The first, Shack/Slum Dwellers International, joined in 2007.
Habitat for Humanity International is based in Americus, Georgia, USA.
For More Information
- Visit Habitat for Humanity's website at www.habitat.org
