World Habitat Day By today, more than 500,000 families will be sleeping in safe, decent, affordable homes thanks to Habitat for Humanity’s efforts. It took Habitat 24 years to build a total of 100,000 homes. In the past 11 years, an additional 400,000 families have been served. Today, Oct. 3, 2011, as part of World Habitat Day events around the world, Habitat for Humanity will dedicate its 500,000th house in Maai Mahiu, Kenya. Today, as well, Habitat will raise the walls of its 500,001st house in Paterson, New Jersey, in recognition of the work still needed to done to eradicate poverty housing worldwide.