Habitat for Humanity of Ouachita is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build decent, affordable housing. These 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.

While many Habitat affiliates throughout this nation fight daily battles for adequate building sites, several donations near Carroll High School have been made to us. Most recently, the City of Monroe donated 4 lots. We will build 26 homes in this subdivision. Unit 1 is complete (see photo) while Unit 2 (15 lots) and Unit 3 (4 lots - city donation) will be started in 2008. We also have several adjoining lots in West Monroe.

Habitat for Humanity of Ouachita became an affiliate in 1994. Five new Habitat homes were completed in 2007, our most productive year. We also have big  growth plans for 2008 and beyond, not just to build houses but to move families into affordable, decent homes in safe neighborhoods. We have faith this can be done but we need the help of more individuals, more churches, more organizations, and more businesses. The four things needed to build a Habitat home are 1) partner families, 2) volunteers, 3) a place to build, and 4) project funding. Project funding is our biggest need (click here to join the Builders Club).  We invite you to join us as we work in partnership with God's people in need, helping them to secure decent, affordable shelter.

Near the end of 2007, several ULM technical writing students administered a survey to a sample of our Habitat partner families as a Service-Learning Project. Fifty percent of those surveyed indicated an increase in voting, volunteerism, and involvement with church related activities. Seventy five percent indicated an increase of involvement with the school. One hundred percent indicated they feel safer. The positive changes in the Habitat home residents' everyday life include: spending more time with their family, feeling safer in their new neighborhood, knowing their children can play safely outdoors, and having lower utility payments.

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
-- Isaiah 32:18