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Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709-3498, (912) 924-6935

Aside from its affiliation with Jimmy Carter, HFHI is famous for its refusal to accept government funding, and for its tremendous success as a community service project in the U.S. HFHI believes that "God intends for everyone to have a decent durable shelter." Volunteers build affordable housing at home and abroad with an emphasis on appropriate technology and alternative building methods. (In April, HFHI completed its first straw bale house in Silver City, NM, and it often builds with mud bricks where appropriate.) Founded in 1976 by Linda and Millard Fuller, Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of the homeowners. Houses are sold at no profit to partner families, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period. A Habitat house in the United States costs home-owners an average of approximately $35,000 while houses in developing countries range from about $500-$3,000. It takes an average of three months to build a Habitat house. Habitat has projects in all 50 states and 100 projects in 40 other countries where volunteers work in what HFHI calls Global Village Work Camps consisting of 10-20 participants. Volunteers may work to raise funds in the village and pay their own travel expenses, food, lodging, and insurance.

USDA Forest Service volunteer programs. (202) 205-8333.

In 1994, 93,726 people volunteered with the Forest Service. The number of volunteers in the national forests always exceeds the number of paid employees, and they contribute millions of dollars worth of work every year. Under the United States Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service manages 192 million acres of land in 44 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin islands.

Volunteers receive no compensation, but if funds are available, incidental expenses, such as transportation, lodging, and subsistence, may be reimbursed. Volunteers work on a part-time, full-time, or project-by-project basis, and they may receive training if their jobs require it. People who are retired or have summers free may wish to live in a national forest while they work as a volunteer. Some typical volunteer activities include:

• maintaining and hosting campgrounds
• answering phones, greeting visitors, and answering mail at Forest Service visitor centers and ranger stations
•working with computers in Forest Service administration offices
• taking photographs
• planting trees and seeding damaged areas
• presenting environmental education programs
• building and repairing fences, nesting boxes, picnic tables, campsites, docks, and trails
• restoring damaged stream banks and burnt-over areas.

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