LAFAYETTE -- Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette announced the return of Doug Taylor as executive director the organization.

Taylor has been on leave for the past 18 months working in Léogâne , Haiti – managing a disaster Response housing initiative through Habitat for Humanity of Haiti.  

“It is good to be back - Lafayette is home," Taylor said. "It is easier to be here physically than mentally. Even though Habitat has accomplished a lot in Haiti, there is still so much need in Haiti and it’s difficult not to think about it.”

The project Taylor managed in Haiti is located at the epicenter of the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake,  where 80 percent of the housing was destroyed. Since the 2010 earthquake in which nearly 190,000 houses were damaged, Habitat Haiti has served approximately 40,000 families. Of the 190,000 damaged houses, 105,000 were completely destroyed and of the more than two million affected survivors, more than 500,000 are still homeless today.

Habitat for Humanity Haiti will continue to work to bring attention to the need for safe and decent housing, and the pivotal role of housing in community development. The Jimmy Carter Work Project returns to Haiti Nov. 23-Dec. 1, and will bring approximately 600 volunteers together to build an additional 100 homes in the earthquake-stricken community of Léogâne. Doug will return to Haiti for a month in October in preparation of these efforts.

During Taylor’s absence, the Lafayette HFH continued to grow and expand. Habitat Lafayette now serves a geographical area that includes six counties:   Benton, Fountain, Warren, Carroll, White, and Tippecanoe.   HFHL celebrated the completion of its 200^th house - in addition to building 20 houses and rehabilitating 8 more in the time that Doug was absent.  

“We want to continue serving families in need of affordable housing but maybe in a little different way.," Taylor said. "We will continue to build houses, rehab houses, and do repairs for Seniors through the SHARP program - in fact we want to improve in every area of these initiatives. But, in addition to what we have historically done, we want to facilitate the process of helping families find housing solutions without pounding another nail or laying another block. We want to do all of this in a way that glorifies the God we serve - and that is the difficult part.”

In 2012-2013 HFHL will build another 12-15 homes, and complete another 250 Senior repairs. In addition to these goals, Habitat Lafayette will be facilitating the Matt Bowman Veteran’s Build and completing a Homeowner Training Center that will be used by, not only for Habitat families, but also by the community at large for educational purposes related to housing issues.     

Habitat for Humanity: Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International seeks to end poverty housing worldwide.   An ecumenical Christian housing ministry, Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette works in partnership with people in need to build simple, decent homes.   The houses then are sold to the partner families at no profit, through zero-interest loans.   Since its founding in 1985, the Lafayette affiliate has built more than 140 homes in Tippecanoe, Carroll and White counties. This year, Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette will celebrate its 150^th house build. For more information call 765-423-4590 or visit www.lafayettehabitat.org .