President Jimmy Carter’s service to Habitat for Humanity was a powerful expression of his personal faith—one rooted in compassion, fairness, and a deep commitment to helping others.
For decades, President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter rolled up their sleeves to build homes and bring awareness to the importance of having a stable place to call home. In 1991, he called Habitat for Humanity a “singular, divine concept that has opened a vision to me.” That vision—a world where people come together to build, support one another, and create stronger communities—
inspire him to build across the United States and around the world.
A Lifetime of Service and Dedication
Building with Habitat wasn’t just a cause for Carter—it was a deeply personal and fulfilling experience. “Some of my most memorable and gratifying experiences were when I joined other volunteers and worked to exhaustion building a house alongside the family who would live there,” he once shared. He understood that a home was more than just shelter; it was the foundation for a better life. “One of the basic human rights is housing—the right not only to have a place to live but to have it be your own.”
From a young age, Carter watched his parents live out their faith through service, fairness, and hard work on their family farm and in their community. Those values shaped his journey—from the U.S. Navy to business, the White House, and, ultimately, his humanitarian work. Beginning in 1984, Habitat for Humanity became a natural extension of those lifelong lessons.
For Carter, building with Habitat wasn’t just about constructing homes—it was about breaking barriers. “I look on Habitat for Humanity as a movement for reconciliation, a breaking down of barriers between people who might be different.” His unwavering faith in God’s love for all people guided the way he engaged with Habitat homeowners, volunteers, and world leaders alike—with humility, authenticity, and a belief in the power of community.
His impact lives on in every home built, every life changed, and every volunteer inspired to pick up a hammer in the name of service. As we celebrate President Jimmy Carter Day in California, newly declared as December 29th, we reflect on his unwavering dedication to making the world a better place—one home, one family, and one community at a time.