Oftentimes it's taken for granted, those who have *** roof over their head living in *** home of their own. Unfortunately, for many home ownership is an unachievable dream and that's what powered the vision and creation of habitat for humanity. Back in 1976, *** nonprofit Christian organization bringing families volunteers and resources together to build and renovate affordable housing. Jennifer Harris is *** manager for habitats global village and discovery center in Georgia. Right now. We are partnering with families in over 70 countries, but it wasn't always this way. Habitat for humanity has grown over the years with the help of two very high profile volunteers, former president, Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalind. Carter and Miss Rosalind started volunteering with habitat. In 1984, they worked with habitat in Americas, Georgia, the county seat of Sumpter County that includes Carter's hometown of plains. *** few months later, the carters were at it again, rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty by putting in the hard work of home building. And that was more than 35 years ago and they never stopped. They have helped in over um 14 countries. They've worked with over 100,000 volunteers and have helped families get over 4300 homes. They also started the Carter work project in 1984 when they committed to habitat. Decades ago, they dug in deep, creating *** week long event taking place in *** different location all over the world every year with the very first project in New York there, they served 19 families in need of safe yet affordable housing. And even when the elder statesman hit his 90 s and fought *** battle with brain cancer in 2015. Harris says the Carters didn't show signs of slowing down. It is amazing to see. Uh President Carter and this rosal and be able to volunteer with habitat um at their age. And I can just only hope that when I'm that age, I can help volunteer and build homes. The couple completed the 35th, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter work project in 2018, building 41 homes in South Bend, Indiana, working alongside volunteers and future homeowners. They're helping us has brought awareness And *** lot of times they, when other people see what the Carters have done, they are more aware of what we're doing with families, families that have to meet three main requirements in order to start the process of owning *** home. Families have to have *** need, they have to have *** willingness to partner, they have to put in sweat equity hours and help build their home. And then the third thing is they do have to have an ability to pay. And yes, you heard that right. Anyone who occupies *** habitat home has to pay *** mortgage. They're not charged any interest and the homeowner has 30 years to pay off the principal. The couple has said *** great deal of pride goes into building your own property and being financially responsible for it. And their plan was to help as many people as possible fulfill that goal, making their hometown community members grateful. It's very emotional and it's very inspiring to have *** president come from your local area and we are very proud to have him the next big building events at the Carter Work project in Nashville, Tennessee in October of 2019, where 21 more families got to walk away with the keys to *** brand new home. Thanks in part to the Carters selfless decision back in the eighties to give back Shannon Royster W J C L 22 News.