Service housing models and characteristics

Shelter for Life

Homelessness and affordable housing is a global problem. The social issues behind homelessness are complex and varied. In the United States, homelessness is most-often associated with unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, affecting both large cities and smaller communities. However, in other countries, homelessness can be the result of other factors. One of the most common factors for homelessness in some regions is war. Millions of people over the decades, in many regions, have been forced to leave their homes and become refugees, often in lands unfamiliar to them. Although many countries have government funded organizations to help address the problem, these programs often cannot fulfill the need, especially when it occurs on the scale of millions of people displaced by war. As such, many countries rely on private organizations to come to the rescue.

There are a variety of non-governmental organizations (NGO) that have been formed to address the problem of homelessness and lack of affordable housing. Organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, have built more than 300,000 homes around the globe, providing housing for more than 1.5 million people ("Habitat for Humanity"). Although Habitat for Humanity may be one of the more well-known organizations working towards solving the homelessness and affordable housing challenge, they're often focused on homelessness due to low-income. Others are making headway in solving the homelessness challenge due to the displacement from war, such as Shelter for Life.

Shelter for Life International is also a Christian-based organization. Their mission is "to demonstrate God's love by enabling people affected by conflict and disaster to rebuild their communities and restore their lives" ("Mission"). Shelter for Life's inception was sparked by the need to provide temporary shelter for the refugees who had fled to the Pakistan border, after fleeing Afghanistan. Their first goal of Shelter for Life was simply to help these displaced people find safe shelter. They had no idea how having a safe place to live could create and restore a person's sense of security, dignity and hope for the future. From this humble beginning of sheltering refugees, the organization has expanded their goals to include not only rebuilding homes, but entire communities as well.

Shelter for life began its existence in 1984, as Shelter Now International. Their current headquarters are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their mission has expanded from the original refugees on the Pakistan border and now they are serving people in "Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and the United States. In past years SFL has served other countries including Angola, Burundi, Honduras, India, Iran, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Western Sahara" (FAQ).

As mentioned, Shelter for Life began as a result of the millions of Afghans pouring into Pakistan. The Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan in 1978, causing the upheaval. Thor and Debi Armstrong, founders of the organization, had been at work in Asia, and realized the tremendous need caused by this displacement. In 1982, they moved to Pakistan with a dedicated team, and began their first UNHCR funded project of building geodesic domes for the Afghan refugees. Over the year, the organization built 1,800 multi-purpose geodesic domes, for the Afghan refugees. Later, they would establish factories in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, to manufacture concrete roof beams, as well as other housing components, facilitating the rebuilding of not only homes, but entire communities as well. The Gulf War resulted in millions of Kurds fleeing their homes, and once again Shelter for Life saw an opportunity to help others in need. Responding to the turmoil of the Iraqi people, Shelter for Life became an international NGO.

History"). Funding for Shelter for Life projects comes from a variety of sources including private donations, collaborations with other NGOs, such as Habitat for Humanity, religious organizations, humanitarian organizations, and governmental agencies ("Partners").

Randall Olson is the current President and Chief Executive Officer for Shelter for Life. Highly qualified, Olson received his B.A. In Linguistics and South and Southwest Asian Studies, his M.A. In Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and went on to become a PhD. candidate in Law and Diplomacy, with concentrations in International Conflict Resolution, Southwest Asian Studies, and Political Systems and Theories. Prior to joining Shelter for Life, he worked as a Development Assistance Specialist for the United States Agency for International Development, one of the many partners Shelter for Life utilizes, in their work ("Leadership").