We are a community-level Habitat for Humanity affiliate that acts in partnership with and on behalf of Habitat for Humanity International. Our mission is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the community and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. To accomplish this goal, we invite people of all backgrounds, races, and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Today, we have built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent affordable shelter. The Rapides affiliate was founded in 1989 by Norman Martin and Joanne White.