Former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter Passes Away at 96, Leaving Lasting Legacy in Affordable Housing
ATLANTA, Nov. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Habitat for Humanity is deeply saddened by the passing of former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a champion and strong advocate for affordable and decent housing for all. Mrs. Carter, along with President Jimmy Carter, dedicated over three decades of their time and leadership to Habitat, building and improving homes around the world. She peacefully passed away on Sunday at her home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by her family, at the age of 96.
Habitat for Humanity recognizes the profound impact Mrs. Carter made during her lifetime, empowering countless women, inspiring millions of people, and positively changing the lives of thousands of homeowners. Her compassion for serving others and commitment to improving housing conditions was truly exceptional.
Mrs. Carter and President Carter first became involved with Habitat for Humanity in March 1984 near their home in Americus, Georgia, where Habitat for Humanity was founded. They later joined Habitat volunteers in renovating an abandoned building in New York City’s Lower East Side, in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. This marked the beginning of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which eventually saw the couple working with more than 104,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to construct, renovate, and repair 4,390 Habitat homes.
In recognition of their extraordinary dedication to service, Habitat for Humanity named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians in 2016. Their commitment to social justice and basic human rights has had a lasting impact on Habitat’s mission and the families that have benefited from their example.
Habitat for Humanity plans to celebrate Mrs. Carter’s life of service with local observances and encourages people to visit habitat.org to learn more or share a tribute.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, a Christian housing organization, was founded in 1976 as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since then, it has become a leading global nonprofit, working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in over 70 countries. The organization enables families and individuals in need to partner with Habitat to build or improve their homes. Habitat homeowners help construct their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering, or advocating for affordable housing, everyone can contribute to helping families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and its mission, visit habitat.org.
