The Fuller Center for Housing
The Fuller Center, headquartered in Americus, Georgia, has a mission similar to Habitat for Humanity. However, the delivery is different.
Fuller Center (FC) relies on local community organizations to identify worthy housing (new builds and remodels) recipients and offers financing to complete the projects. Local organizations drive the construction.
FC offers the funding and financing to the recipient homeowner at zero interest, with services and a payment schedule to fit the recipient’s ability to pay. They refer to their program as “Jesusnomics” (apt, I think). Local people, including the recipient, do the building.
A primary fundraising vehicle is bike rides, where riders raise money. Only 10% of the funds go to overhead, and as the recipients pay back the loan, the money is used for another recipient, multiplying the effect of a single donation.
The rides are low-cost, and local churches provide the riders with sleeping accommodations and food. Showers and laundry are also donated, and during a ride, the riders donate 250 man hours per week on house builds! Costs are low, and adventure is high!
Pictures below are sleeping accommodations and a wonderful dried fruit plate that accompanied a baked potato and chili dinner at the first two churches in Washington. The church members were wonderful hosts and provided evenings of fun and laughter. We are required to attend the evenings with our hosts (of course), and the motto of “living simply” so others can “simply live” is also apt, I think!
