Don't blame the victim! These houses were not free. Homeowners invest their own time and money too. This development was built on an improperly designed landfill and that landfill is causing the problems. Of course it's attracting rats and bugs. The city's p&z dept is at fault, not homeowners or H4H

Melissa, Phoenix, USA

Sad state of affairs when ignorance is allowed to speak and do so much damage that cannot be repaired. The entire planet is a better place because of Habitat and President Carter's involvement. The model is perfect. Families work for their home and then pay for it. Why the bitterness?

Mike, Michigan, USA

To assume that volunteer means unqualified is ignorant. Hundreds of HFH houses in South Florida survived Hurricane Andrew, and if houses being built in New Orleans don't survive, it is more likely because they are being rebuilt on a flood plain. A HOME is only as good as it's foundation...

a fisher, wadsworth, USA

"Parent is plural."
John Diamond, San Antonio, U.S.A.

John, no it isn't. "Parent" is singular. "Parents" is plural.

Matt, London, UK

I am a HFH homeowner.Our family of seven worked hard to build our home...from the 4yo to the 10yo picked up, swept after work crews, painted and more. We live in less than 1400 sq ft. we have improved both inside and out. My boys have learned to enjoy building and serving Plan to keep it forever.

a fisher, wadsworth, USA

FACT: Fairway Oaks was built in partnership with the Northeast Florida Builders Association. The homes were all built to code and inspected by the city before homeowners took possession.

Peter, Atlanta, US

Habitat homes are NOT FREE. It's not a handout, it's a hand up. Habitat home owners have to qualify financially and carry a mortgage. The city is at fault here for allowing houses to be built on a landfill. This program is incredibly successful all over the world. Place blame where it's due.

Ron B., Prescott, AZ, US

Lady with the bleach: That is not always the answer, mold can be very toxic and fatal. If children are breaking out from the mold it simply means that they are allergic to it. If you have reoccurring mold have it tested to see if you and your family are in danger.

kemp, Bridgeport, USA

Always an angle to get a story in the news. Now it is the British who have to get some sort of news coverage. Builds do not take place when land is not appropriate and all building codes are always met and usually exceeding in builds (volunteers are known to figure one nail good 2 better!)

Leonard , Center Harbor, USA

Is it true that the homes were built on a landfill? If so, then would it not seem logical that you will have problems on a high order because the land is still changing beneath your feet! It's being processed by microbes! It can be said that it's irresponsible to build on rotting garbage. Go fig!

Bob Xervant, Hammond, IN

I have nothing to do with HfH, but have long appaulded it and former Pres. Carter especially for the efforts. The story reports a resident as saying when there's mildew, get a bottle of bleach, not a lawyer. Couldn't agree more. Don't bash Carter/HfH.

Mekhong Kurt, Bangkok, Thailand

As the President of a Habitat affiliate, please allow me to clarify facts
Homes are SOLD to Habitat family partners- there IS a MORTGAGE.
Habitat families must qualify based on INCOME and CREDIT SCORES to show that they can repay the mortgage
Habitat is not a GIVEAWAY program
www.habitat.org

Maureen, Mandeville, USA

Hold your horses on blame. Need to look at the city/county administration that ALLOWED the H f H program to use the land for housing. The commissioners HAD to have known the land was a landfill years before and "OKAY'D" it for multiple single family buildings. Give credit where credit is due!

Mark, Belton, USA

To dismiss the enormous contributions that Mr. Carter has made to Habitat's work and our families (I have worked for Habitat for 4 years) is ludicrous. I applaud you for your work with HFH in MS, but find it unfortunate that you would choose to publicly bash someone who has helped make it possible.

Jeff, Memphis, USA

People should not have to live with skin rashes, just because they were too poor to afford a house. Habitat for Humanity should come back and remove the mildew. It's only fair.

George, Boston, MA, USA

Is there a more fitting metaphor for Jimmy Carter's Life?

MGE, Ft. Drum, USA

Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Janet Brewster, Three Lakes, usa

I see many people on this board trashing Jimmy Carter. I bet none of them vounteered even a single day in their entire lifetime. How is it Carter's fault if the homeowner doesn't take care of the house? First volunteer; then see if you still feel the same way about those who volunteered before you.

David, Dallas, TX, USA

What happened to working for a living? Free health care, free housing? Realists know that nothing is free, and that the path we are choosing actually costs more and produces less.
What is the morality of something for nothing? And worse, why do we look at people and say they dont have a chance

Mike, Trappe,

Obviously, the problem is poor maintenance.

Maybe HFH in the future should offer courses on how to maintain a new home?!?

Karl, K.C., United States

I'm sure most people have heard the saying, "don't bite the hand that feeds you". In this case, these people surely don't listen to that advise. I too help habitat build homes for those who cannot otherwise afford one. All homes undergo inspection every stage. These people dont deserve habitat home.

David, Dallas, USA

I bet those homes don't look anything like they did when they were new. I keep mold and pests away by regular cleaning and upkeep.

Suz, Oakdale, USA

Scott from PHX,

Maybe you should get another job other than burger flipper so your class envy isn't quite so obvious. Until then, get out of other people's wallets with your social engineering ideas.

Greg, Portland, USA

I have also worked with Habitat for Humanity in Florida and I thought they did and excellent job. The whole time when you go with a group they have a contractor and two other people who have knowledge and have been trained. I think in this cased they just built the houses in the wrong place.

Anna, Rockford, MN, USA

UK medical system has 100% coverage. 15% american's having no healthcare coverage, and a huge percentage of the rest has very limited coverage. Glad your back is OK, pity about the millions of american children who can't get an aspirin. Yes, that's what we all thought.

Fred West, London, UK

I worked on a HH home with my friends from work. They used strong, high quality building materials including Insulated Concrete Forms and Structural Insulated Panels. They went the extra mile in terms of structural quality where most builders cut corners.

Greg, New York, USA

5 ft of rubbish under the kitchen? Does he also have a weird closet that the floor is all rubbish? Up here we call that the BASEMENT.
Rick, MI

We don't have basements in FL . The water table is too high. Before pointing fingers, learn the facts. The homes were built directly on a landfill.

Michelline, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Seriously, I understand why people are concerned, but no one is forcing these people to live in these houses that were provided "FREE" of charge. No one is stopping them from moving some place else. My answer is if you don't like it, leave.

Jeff Benjamin, Norfolk, VA, USa

I'm tired of all the handouts in this country. People complain no matter what is handed to them. There is no initiative to improve their lives and get off their rears and work. Excessive charity is becoming the downfall of this nation. Either pull your weight or shut up and live in your slum.

Deb, Columbus, USA

While it's true that much of the work of building Habitat homes is done by volunteers, there is always oversight by a paid professional builder who is the construction coordinator. Further, the critical portions of the construction (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) is generally done by paid contractors.

John , Farmville VA,

I worked for two weeks on a Habitat house in Atlanta. The family that was going to move into the house was working with us the entire time.

Alex, Atlanta, USA

Habitat is a great charity. Obviously, none of you have any idea how it really works. If the houses stink it possible it is because THEY ARE ON A LANDFILL.

The plans are usually well thought out & the future residents go through a screening process which at no point requires them to buy the house

Juan Carlos, Superville, USA

Problems with "sweating" houses and "mildew" occur with builders that are pros in Florida. The issue is inadequate ventilation and or improper installation of HVAC systems. I think it is counterproductive to impute guilt on those that swung a hammer. It should be on those that installed the HVAC.

John, Bethesda, MD , USA

It's a sad day in America when recipients of charity are threatening legal action. Sadder still is that these folks and their sour grapes could prevent future charitable actions such as this. If they dont like the house they should just move out and let someone else move in who appreciates it.

James, El Paso, USA

Well, that's it then.

It's official.

At one time I thought HFH was the one redeeming virtue to Mr. Carter.

Nate W., Memphis TN, USA

Classic good intended charity failing to address the problem of what happens after the home is given to the individual. All homes require maintenance, beginning day 1. Issues may be construction prob or normal daily maintenance which aren't done for reasons related to poverty.

Paul, Martinez, Ga, uNITED sTATES

how exactly is your medical system working out over there? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Martin, St Andrews, Scotland"

I had a back ache and within 2 weeks got to see my internist a orthopedic specialist, had back x-rays and an MRI. How is your medical system working? Thats what I thought.

Ann, Rhinebeck NY, United States

What happens when the water heater goes?

Jeff, St. Louis, USA

Jimmy Carter was...is....and always will be...a DISGRACE!

Definitely the worst and most embarrassing President ever.

Mike, Albany, USA

I worked on a Habitat project with no celebrities. The new homeowner was supposed to put in a certain amount of labor hours as sweat equity, but her family did no work while racking up their "labor hours." Blame the charity case who calls a lawyer when things go wrong, not the fake-photo op celebs

phil, Chicago, USA

5 feet of rubbish under the kitchen? Does he also have a weird closet that the floor is all rubbish?
Up here we call that the BASEMENT and try to keep it cleaned out so we can use that space.

Maybe some cleaning is in order...

Rick, Michigan,

Man, the very obvious level of ignorance on this board is blinding.

First, the truth. 1) not all section 8 people "trash" their homes.
2) Jimmy Carter is an inspiration to all of us. He walks the walk, unlike some repukes who just like to talk trash.

Thomas Jefferson, MONTECELLO, USA

Send Movie Stars & Carter back to Florida to repair housing regardless of the problem. Determine issues and make changes requiring specific maintenance be performed by the home owner. Require maint money be set aside at the beginning. Maintenance failures ruins whole neighborhoods.

Paul, Martinez, Ga, uNITED sTATES

You get what you pay for people. I' ve volunteered for HH before and been somewhat irritated by the attitudes of the people for whom we were volunteering our time. We were fixing the roof on a house and painting the entire exterior while the inhabitants sat on their fat duffs watching daytime TV.

jeff, birmingham , USA

My mother owns a small trailer park and she got with that government program where they pay her above regular rental rates to house people on govt. assistance. The only problem is they tear up the trailers and don't take care of anything, because they don't care, they never had to work for it.

Joey, Texas, USA

Eric of Atlanta: I built a bunch of Habitat Homes in SW Atlanta. Funny thing, I never ever worked along side anyone who has putting in their time to get their own home. It was always well meaning middle income folks who were sacrificing their Saturdays to help out others.

Erik, Atlanta, USA

Jimmy Carter leading the charge...........need I say more? The man is an absolute embarrassment!

Jeff, Dallas, TX, USA

I agree with Diana, from Derby, UK, my father-in-law went to Guatemala on a missions trip for his church to build a house. He and the other volunteer "workers" should have saved the air-fare and donated it instead. They would have been able to build 3 times the house they eventually built.

joe maccii, spanaway, usa

Houses require maintenance. It is highly unlikely that most people who are given a house without having to work for it are willing to get a job and save money to maintain or improve their home. People with a "gimme" attitude will always neglect what they don't respect or didn't earn.

Dgleon, Carson City, USA

Section 8 tenants destroy the units they live in. The gvnmt pays more than market rents to get a landlord to rent to them. If they were required to maintain their apartments the government would save a fortune. The recipients of the Habitat homes should be required to do maintenance or move out.

Eric, Ossining NY, USA

Unfortunately, it sounds like Habitat did not perform the appropriate due diligence on the land plat. The rashes are either caused from the mold or the chemicals offgasing from the items in the land fill. I am sure Habitat will take care of the problem which will prove expensive.

Steve, Seattle, USA

I bet some of thes folks did not care for the homes and now a Lawyer who wants to make a name for themself, is convincing these folks that they will get lots of money. These homes had building permits and inspections. Greed and LAWYERS with iEGOS & GREED will be the undoing of the USA

John, Tucson,

Haste makes waste! Land-dumps for foundation, 17-day rush to create housing, and liberals pan-handling the poor! Looks good on paper so they get a pass. People who get a home for nothing shouldn't be expected to take care of it! Does anyone expect the poor to pu money into a free home?

Mda, Harrisburg, USA

I've been an Appraiser for over 20 years and I can tell you from first hand experience that most of the housing projects I've seen over the years started off as great ideas.....but after only 2-3 years of neglect by those that live there-- the places look like complete dumps.

Bob, Chino Hills, USA

Reading the ugly comments from the US on here has given me an entirely new idea about how some people/nations perceive "charity". As cold as charity, indeed.
Was the ground at the old dump tested for leachates or residual toxins before building, or since? Anyone remember Erin Brokovich?

Dale, Wellington,

You get what you pay for.

m. hillman, tustin,

I can't wait to see all the new HFH houses in the 9th Ward in New Orleans start falling apart due to lack of maintenance just like the ones Katrina destroyed were. I have a new house that I meticulously maintain- just like I did with the house I owned before Katrina that got destroyed. Common sense!

Bonnie, Chalmette, LA,

Folks, these homes are not "given away". I can tell you the Atlanta HFH screens owners who invest 100s of "sweat equity" hours on other builds, attend sessions on home financing & maintenance and must make 12 consecutive on time payments before getting a no-interest 30 year loan. Not a freebie...

Eric, Atlanta, USA

These people pay $300 a month for a home and insurance. I have no sympathy.

Lee, Orlando, US

Reminds of when I was a kid, my dad tried to help a "poorer" family by plowing a plot of land for a garden. We gave them the seeds and helped plant them. Later we ask how the garden had done (we had plenty of rain etc.) We were told "they started out real good but the weeds took 'em".

Frank, Midland, Texas, USA

Trust me when I say this, you cannot build houses on uncompressed rubbish piles. The foundations break and the walls sag, bow and the finish material cracks.

It doesn't work.

It's like building over an old cistern. These things have to settle or be compacted first. Everyone knows this.

Jhoffa_, Cincy, USA

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

steve, philadelphia, usa

Our area HFH chapters are predominately conservative republicans. But they are humans who believe in helping other people to help themselves. There isn't an ego among them. I'd say they are the nicest group of people I've ever met and they are absolutely meticulous in every home they build.

irotramed, Norris, USA

Not everyone is capable of being a doctor. Not everyone is capable of being an astronaut. Not everyone is capable of saving for retirement. Not everyone is capable of maintaining their own home.
Pretending that everyone is equal is a fool's errand.

Saul Davidman, Detroit, USA

FYI: Carter did not start HFH although HFH has benefited greatly using his name and PR draw. My extensive experience with builders and HFH volunteers, in the price range of HFH houses, HFH builds a better house. HFH has built 300,000 houses worldwide. Don't pick on them because you don't like J.C.

J. Cade, easton, usa

So let me get this straight, this is an article on a British newspaper written by a reporter in LA about a place in Florida. And no photos.

What can go wrong there?

Art, Houston, US

I volunteered to help build a habit for humanity house in my town a quite a number of years ago. Once of my neighbors asked me to help...so I did. I arrived and NO one was in charge...it was chaos and anarchy and the rest of them had no building knowledge. I lasted one night and never went back.

Ted, Duluth, USA

1) Building code changes have caused problems all over the country. It's easy to blame the builders when code officials changed energy codes without understanding the fundamental physics involved. 2) HFH generally builds great homes. 3) I'd be more concerned about the zoning that allowed it.

Bob, Central Minnesota, USA

If you earn your own house through hard work, then there is more motivation to keep it. Whether it's the poor construction, or the lack of maintenance, it is an example of good intentions gone bad. If everyone is to be given a house like Barney Frank wants, then why should we have to do upkeep?

Jordan, Bloomington, MN, USA

While I agree that many celebs do things for appearance above all else, I have worked on Habitat homes recently (in Indianapolis) and can say that "we" used quality materials and equipment and the homes are pretty darned solid. I would suspect that maintenance, and not construction, is the problem.

Ken, Indianapolis, usa

When are we going to learn that you cannot just give. Not money, not houses, not cars, without also providing education on how to use, maintain and manage simple things like keeping your house clean. Give a man a fish he eats lunch, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Lorraine, washington dc,

People who don't own a home generally can't AFFORD the mortgage or the upkeep. Now these people are reaping the neglect they've sown by not maintaining the properties they were handed by well-intentioned people.

G. Lamar Wilkie, Manchester, TN, USA

As with many 'housing projects', the occupants FAIL to take care of the precious gift GIVEN to them. Then they whine, cry, moan, complain, sue, to get more off the backs of the working populace. Unless a structure is made of mud, it can stand for years unless a natural disaster hits it.

Brian, Pensacola, USA

Most of the people who move into these projects live with the apartment dwellers mentality.

If it broke someone else ought to fix it.

Ten years of maintenance neglect will turn even the best built home into a toxic dump.

Charles, Waxahachie,

This is what happens when you have someone that wants to look good rather than do what is right.

Chuck Shire, Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.

This must be the big infrastructure problem Obama is talking about.

paul, Chicago, USA

Parts of SAN FRANCISCO are built on a landfill, most in the Marina District.
Many of those homes are worth 3/4 af a million $ or more.
It IS possible to build on a landfill sucessfully.
I cannot say that this is the case there, but I suspect maintenance more than location is the problem.

Rose, California, USA

Regardless of who builds these homes, each step must be looked at by a building inspector before the next step is permitted to proceed. This smacks of propaganda. I think most of the homeowners don't know how to properly maintain and keep up their homes.

Bill R., Clinton Twp, MI, USA

My current house was built by a Republican professional home builder and it has all sorts of problems. It was built during the Hoover administration. It just shows you: you can't trust those Conservatives to build houses! (Remember Herbert Hoover? He was like George W. Bush, but smarter!)

Tony, Saint Louis, USA

All Habitat homes just like any home being built should have the land inspected,and approved first. Just like other structures they need building permits ,and inspection after they are completed. If they are approved then any so called falling apart would be the fault of the occupant for no upkeep.

Lila, Kirkland, USA

Franc, West Palm Beach - how exactly is your medical system working out over there? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Martin, St Andrews, Scotland

I work two jobs and there is a time I lived in my car. I wouldn't dream of suing anybody. I stopped complaining and feeling sorry for myself and got to work.

Dave, Warren, PA

I volunteer for a consumer organization and we get many builder complaints, occasionally Habitat. Usually the problem is the same as other homes; construction defects. They buy the houses w/low or no interest loans, it's not always free. If it's defective and unsafe they have a right to complain.

Cindy, Norman, USA

I am old enough to remember Block-Busting in Oakland, California when I was a young teenager. That was the first time people who had a ghetto mentality were subsidized into homes for the sake of forcing a population change. We watched lovely little older homes turn into dumps with no maintenance.

Jan , El Granada, USA

Having been the former owner of rentals I learned in a hurry that things such as "cockroaches, skin ailments" and a lot of the other complaints came from nasty personal habits and poor sanitation practices by the inhabitants. When you've been given a home, you are responsible for its maintenance.

KMS, Huntsville AL,

the "damages" that they seem to be complaining about are the same caused by uncleanliness ...
this seems like another case of biting the hand that feeds you.

Crystal, Boston, MA, USA

I have worked with Habitat for many years. Every single bit of work always overseen by professionals. For example, I built walls with carpenters, laid concrete driveways with masons, and installed shingles with roofing professionals. This instance is more of a bad location than a bad Charity.

Mike, Chicago, IL, USA

My home is built over a former dump site. No one gave it to me for free. When things break, I fix them.

If they spent as much time working on their free home as they do suing the hand that feeds they'd have nothing to complain about.

Maybe that's the real problem.

Brad, Houston, TX, USA,

Why do people who make poor life choices (ie- children out of wedlock, not going to school to learn a viable trade, etc.) get the chance to even own a hom?. Most people in America who do, have made tough choices and had to work to get where they are. What are we teaching HH children?

Will, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

what do you expect when you let a liberal build anything (but a bloated government) but for it to fall down.

David, Dallas,

Each Habitat for Humanity organization is independent so this is a local issue. Sounds like choice of location (old dump) is root cause. The construction elements that require true skill (foundation, drywall, wiring, plumbing, etc.) are done by professionals, not off-the-street volunteers.

Scott, Roswell GA, USA

FYI: HFH houses are not free. They are purchased at market value but have an interest free mortgage. That imakes them affordable. Mortgage payments fund the construction of more homes. Owners are pre-approved and must have adequate resources to pay the mortgage, insurance and utilities.

Jay, Hoboken, USA

As a professional builder 0f 20+ years I can truely say that burying trash under a structure is not a practice that is done by any reputable builder. To build on a landfill area that contains trash is not the smartest thing to do even if you are giving the houses away.

Lee Lindborg, Kalispell, Mt, USA

Thats the problem with 'handout's' no matter under what circumstances they occur. Developmnt agencies around the world learnt long ago that when you give things without peoiple having to make major, lingering sacrifice to gain them (read:mortgage) that they won't take care of them (read:maintenance)

Linda Cohan, Reno, USA

I know how they feel, because I live in a Habitat home and my house been falling apart every since the first year I lived there. When I let habitat workers know about the problems they just tell me they will see what they can do. blaming it on the home owners for foundation issues is just wrong.

Bonita , battle creek,

Anone who rationalizes Carter's folly and then attacks the victims of Carter's folly should be forced to live in one of his putrid homes until they apologize. Of course, as we all know; Being liberal means never having to say you're sorry!

PH, Seattle, USA

This is a model of what we can expect from Obama's trillion dollar work projects administration boondoggle. I can only imagine the waste, shoddy workmanship and fraud that we're going to see from that. It doesn't take a genius to figure out if you're going to build on a dump, you have to bury it.

Chris, Minnesota, USA

I drive from Alaska to FL to volunteer to build. The homes are well-built for the "working poor". (my childhood was in that "class " family) My work is performed with compassion and very high quality. Please don't seek out "bad examples" to use a broad brush to condemn an entire organization.

George Carpenter, Willow, AK, USA

A few points for y'all. FIRST, I have yet to meet a hard working individual who would accept a handout. SECOND, Bush and Cheney both talked to the pending disaster, early in their first term. The Democrats raised bloody murder about increasing underwriting standards. Carter, Clinton's are responsibl

Tom, Allen, TX, USA

I agree that people need to take care of their homes. Any home will suffer if basic repairs are not made. What bothers me is the placing of homes on a waste dump; that seems unsafe, and the residents should have been informed.

susie, wheaton, USA

If I did nothing to my home in Florida for 8 years, it would also have problems as those described above. Roaches come from unclean homes or poor door frame sealing, mildew can be removed easily etc. These people needed to be told that home owning requires responsibilities. Free house & maintenance

Brenda Soto, Tallahassee, FL, USA

These are not "free" houses. The owners help to build them and then pay a monthly payment for them that they can afford. Just so that is known.

Linda, hampton,

How shocking, people who couldn't afford or wouldn't sacrifice enough to purchase their own homes wouldn't care or know enough about maintaining their property. But that's typical of modern liberal largess, when will liberals start teaching people how to fish instead of giving fish away for credit?

Stephen, Tampa, FL

Here is Morganton, NC, Habitat has a very solid rep. But, there are times that our pride gets in the way of common sense and this Blitz Building and PR project circumvented common sense building. I hope that Mr. Carter will learn from this experience.

Tom, Morganton, USA

While stationed in Tampa, I used to volunteer my weekends to Habitat. Burying debris is common in construction industry. Volunteers can be taught how to do "trained monkey" labor tasks without harming the product. If there are roaches and mold, this speaks to the level of cleanliness of the owner

Robbie Seal, Ft Hood, TX, US

Who would have thought that there would be unintended consequences when you give someone something for nothing or for very little? I just wonder what they could possibly sue for? What are the damages? It isn't as though they earned these places. Should their lives be returned to what they were b-4

David, Upland, USA

I don't blame Habitat for Humanity. Homes need maintenance! Handing a home to a poor person involves the risks of that poor person not having enough money to fix the roof, change the air filters, and periodically get termite inspections done.

Rick Cain, Tulsa, OK, USA

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. It's a free house, what do you expect?

Jack, Dallas, TX, USA

The usual liberal "solution": A quick fix that makes liberal leaders look "charitable" and concerned about the welfare fo the poor, but in reality, a damnable sham. Now, with Obama as president, backed by a liberal congress, we're about to see the entire country turned into a habitat for Obama.

Max, Denver,

Having worked with Habitat, unskilled volunteers, supervised by skilled professionals, can do a very craftsman-like job. But, a blitz is a PR stunt and just begs for problems. The celebs get to act like "ordinary folks," doners get tax writeoffs and Habitat gets PR and $. But the buildings can stink

Rickvid , Seattle, USA

My experiences on a few Habitat houses, The lots used were unsaleable,and donated for a big tax write off.Blitz builds are a bad idea, using unskilled labor, as speed causes problems to be covered before inspection can detect them.Some moron "homeowners" need an indestructible rock cave home...

Fred, dobson nc, USA

Gary, are you saying that this means that we shouldn't help these people because of their circumstances, and try to make it better for them? Or are you saying that we are helping them in the wrong way? Gary, the dude found garbage buried 5 feet under his kitchen! It isn't all the people living there

bob, Belgium, WI, USA

How dare the poor and the needy complain, imagine next they will want rights and access to the courts; what is the land of the free coming to?

Johnny, Dalton, ma

Is it just a coincidence or isnt that about the same thing that he did to this country while president. Shoody workmenship all away around!

Darlee, Allen, USA

Who are these idiots that malign Carter and those who donated their time? Have you as much as lifted a finger to help anyone under any circumstance? And where did you get this idea that Habitat houses are given out free? To freeloaders? Get a grip or shut up. Already.

Nicholas, No. Brunswick, NJ,

Never send a "nuceear scientist' to build a house. Like much of Jim Carter's other attributes he is long on talk and short on results. This is just one more example. A really neat idea that fall short yet once more. They never learn.

Richard, Bullhead City, AZ, USA

These houses should be examined to see if the families actually have been taking care of the property. They should be REQUIRED to take classes on upkeep of property. If they don't take care of the place and improve upon it in some way, they should be kicked out. Being poor IS NOT an excuse!!!

William, yucaipa,

I keep reading the phrase "good intentions" lol...

Great Humanitarians care about one thing: thinking of themselves as Great Humanitarians. They have no interest in the messes they create, that's someone else's problem.

erik, nyc, usa

Anything Carter is associated with experiences this same phenomenon.

Robert, La Porte, USA

Enough of the speculations. Pictures show much more than words. 8 years old? Yes there can be problems caused by neglect but foundation problems? Show us photos of the problems and the people involved, then we can start the mud slinging.

Dave, Freeland, USA

Gary, Sunny West Michigan
At first I donated to this farce, A LOT, but soon found out that the ones taking these houses ARE deadbeats. Most have too many kids from too many fathers or are "Single" parents,,an Oxymoron. Parent is plural. We are feeding our own destruction, and housing them too.

John Diamond, San Antonio, U.S.A.

Diana from Derby, UK, does not know what she is talking about. The people on that flight must have built homes for tribals and needy villagers who otherwise live in huts, mostly without electricity and poor water supply. Builders are rogues who take lucrative big-city projects

Noel, Mumbai, India

Just like Jimmy Carter--no solid foundation. I think he saw and adored too many Cuban hovels. Way to go, smiley...just another failed program.

Plan it. See forward. Act for the long term. This sounds like liberal health care....

Lance, San Francisco, USA

That kind of slap happy work is typical of Jimmy Carter. It was reflected in the poor decisions of his presidency. And, has continued to be reflected in his recent and near past comments about just about everything. Carter needs to just fade away and let more skilled people build houses.

Al Barrs, Bascom, Florida, USA

Habitat homes are usually well-built and NOT "free," and Habitat homeowners are NOT deadbeat freeloaders, as some here are saying. Habitat typically organizes professionals who donate much of the work while supervising and training others to assist.
But *this* project was a celeb publicity stunt.

Gary, Sunny West Michigan, USA

Before I anger some of you, I do believe in helping people out of a natural disaster. However, I agree that handouts are useless and actually keep the lower class down. Welfare is hurting these people not helping. If you have a disability, then you should be assisted.

Kenton, Birmingham, United States

Years ago nearly all the other passengers on a intercontentinal flight were returning from building houses in India. I thought they were kind well meaning people who should have donated the money spent on airfares to Indian builders who would have made a better job and would have welcomed the income

Diana, Derby, uk

The current system is destroying the lower classes family unit. More aid for more kids and less if there are two parents in the home. Why do we perpetuate this? This is not helpful, it hurts society in general.

Kenton, Birmingham, United States

Chastise whomever you may.Blame somebody for the problems,when someone did something to GIVE of themselves to help other people.Will the blamers go and build other places,with their own time and money to accomadate people that need it.No,they will only point their lazy fingers.Get it done,your way.

Lion Larry, lombard,il, usa

I'm a custom builder in FL. The FL Building Code and local building dept's require a compaction test on the soil beneath the footers and slabs. The soil must be compacted to 98%. Building on wastelands or "rubbish" is just plain stupid. Sounds like they never got the test, it wouldn't have passed

Eamon , Stuart, FL, USA

Maybe they should move out to the streets of New Orleans if they are not happy.

Paco, Los Angeles, USA

I have a friend who is the proud owner of a very nice home built by Habitat for Humanity. In our town there are also homes built by Habitat and are very nice. Carter helped build them too.

Unless something has changed, Habitat owners PAY mortgages like everyone else. They are NOT free homes.

brea, US,

At the Houston Habitat the residents must contribute "sweat equity", i.e., if you want to own a Habitat home you must also help build it for 300 hours. I suppose this way you'll get to see the house at various stages of it being built and get to question whether things are being done right.

Jerry, Houston, TX, USA

the road to hell is paved with good intentions -- never forget that

steve, middletown,nj, usa

I wish someone would give me a home. I believe I would say thank you and keep my mouth shut.

John, Cary, USA

Habitat homes are not "given" to homeowners. Prospective owners must donate several hundred hours of labor to Habitat, plus they pay actual costs for construction. In the US the cost is about $60,000. Additionally, the vast majority of Habitat volunteers are experienced builders.

Keith Alan, Denver, USA

I am from Jacksonville, the people living there (these houses and in most of the Westside and Northside) are dirt bags who have grown on hand outs all their lives. They will never be happy so don't worry about their fates, if they hate it so much, let them move. Thats what people with self esteem do

josh, Jacksonville, USA

Most housing issues are caused by the people residing in them. Its up to the resident to maintain their property, its safety, cleanliness and to pay their mortgages and bills. Sadly, we have this mentality that all folks must own their homes instead of the reality that some are incapable of doing so.

CIF, New York, USA

What do they want? Their money back?

David123, Boerne, Texas, USA

Well Jimmy did verify Chavez election as fair & honest. LOL! Liberals think if they give free things to the poor that it solves problems. Free healthcare in the UK is not working out too well. I guess the libs never taught these people about maintenance. How about some personal responsiblity.

Franc, West Palm Beach, USA

If you get a free house and still find the nerve to file a lawsuit because it is not up to your strict standards thats something else. Where were you living before you got a free place to stay? Was it better or worse than where you are at now? If it is then you should shut up

CALEB, TULSA, USA

I've been in one of these homes in Atlanta-the people were so nasty I refused to clean the carpet.

Alec, atlanta, usa

the houses are not "free" the people who wind up with the houses have to help build them and also have to make payments on the house. Habitat houses are less expensive because the labor is free and alot of other stuff is free or donated. The people who get the houses have to be employed etc.

Joy, knox, usa

I'm under the impression that people in habitat homes still have to pay a mortgage and moving out would not be an option if you still have a mortgage?

Shel, Crestline, United States

They got a free house! How many people are going into forecloser because they can no longer aford the house they bought and will need to find someplace else to live. I bet they would be happy to have a free house. A bunch of cry babies that can't get off their ass should't complain.

Timm, Midland, USA

Maybe there is fault on both the people living in the homes for lack of maintenance and the builders for building so fast. Many people who are eligible for living in these homes do not know or have the money to maintain a home. I have worked on habitat for humanity homes and they build too fast.

Hal, Rome, Italy

Wasn't that Jimmy Carter fella the same liberal democrat that gave away the multibillion dollar Canal Zone saying "this treaty won't cost the American taxpayers a dime"? Vast ideas with half vast knowledge!

Puddin Tain, New York, USA

If I were ever blessed enough to be given such a generous gift, I surely would never complain. In fact, I would do everything I personally could to keep it in the best possible shape. Maybe the homeowners weren't ready for the responsibility and the upkeep.

Scott, Coldwater,

Keith in Ft. Meyers made a good and trenchant point. I suspect that many of those who qualified for those free homes are NOT the type to take the time, spend a little preventative money, or even use a little Lysol here and there. They got if for free and expect a free mantenence program too? Wow!

MIke, lessburg, USA

Cracked foundations is proof of nothing without a geotechnical report...

John, Columbia,

Could be these are all hard working folk trying to keeep the house tidy. Then again some folks can't muster the energy to put down the twinkie and bag of potato chips, roll their moby dick carcass off the sofa and wash a sinkful of nasty, crusted-over greasy bacon pans. Article doesn't say.

Guido, Los Angeles,

Typical of the work of Jimmy Carter - smart ideas, good intentions but utimate failures. I guess he will get another Noble Peace prize.

Joe, Newport Beach, CA, USA

Keith from Ft. Myers asks: "I wonder how many of these problems are caused by poor maintenance on the part of the resident."

Do you think the guy who owned the home actually put the 5 ft. of garbage under his kitchen? It was built on a garbage dump! How do you "maintain" a house built on rot?

Abu Nudnik, Toronto,

Habitat is a great organization. We've been building homes here in Pasadena, Texas (south of Houston) for over 10 years with all volunteer labor and all of them survived hurricane Ike with little or no damage. The blitz idea, however, is a bad one. Too many homes, too fast.

S Harris, Pasadena, Tx, US

This is GWB's fault? HOW? THe housing crisis was caused by democrats forcing banks to make loans they knew would fail. Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae kissed democrats in the butt so they would look the other way. Sorry, this one is all on the liberals in Washington.

Carduus, Central Nebraska, United States of America

No good deed goes unpunished.

R Stanley, Fayetteville , USA

There is nothing to indicate that these are any worse constructed that the crappy St. Lawrence built home I live in (or the Centex built homes of my neighbors). These homes were built on unstable soil which is a recipe for all sorts of problems. They have a home for $300/mo - shove 'intentions' up

Jim, Durham, NC, USA

Why don't we just TAX THE HELL out of the super-rich types and use the money for professionally-built homes to get it done right in the first place. High hollywood and sports salaries cause very-high unemployment. All the money is used for one person's salary instead of hundreds that could work!

scott, PHX, USA

"Eight years later it is better known for cockroaches, mildew and mysterious skin rashes."

"We only build about three houses a year but they are made well and last if maintained."

"If maintained" is the key!

bob, Vero Beach, USA

Yeah, it's Bush's fault. These houses were built by Jimmy Carter and his band of Hollywood Liberals, but when they fall apart it's Bush's fault. Give me a break. If they were built on a trash dump, who's fault is that?? GW was still the gov of Texas when they were built, how is that his issue???

Mike Radowski, Manchaca, United States

Happened in Jacksonville, Florida. Tons of cracked foundations. Proof the ground wasn't leveled before the concrete for the foundation was poured.

Pedro, Jax, FL, USA

The project is 8 years old. If you dont paint, caulk, and maintain property, it will fall apart.
When you hand something over for nothing, the recipient may lack the sense of appreciation necessary to treat it as valuable. Earning things is best, not handouts.

robertv, long beach ca, usa

Most Habitat laborers do have skills related to carpentry, electrical, plumbing, framing, roofing, insulation, painting and other areas. In fact, many workers are contractors, employees of contracting firms, or work in the industry for which they volunteer time. They aren't a simply a bunch of dolts

John, New River, VA, USA

I would not ever agree to accept a free house unless it was also maintenance free.

John Ryan, new York, uSA

This project is in Jacksonville, and the complaints are legitimate. Habijax just tried to do too much too fast when they built the units. April Charney, the attorney in this case is also a local expert in fighting foreclosures and is gaining a national reputation for her expertise.

Mike, Jacksonville, FL, usa

What tremendous things can happen when liberal Hollywood, liberal Dems, and people who don't work all come together for a common cause! This situation required Jimmy Carter running things, Hollywood celebrities doing physical labor, and the future residents waiting for their handout. Idiots!!!

Elrod, Imboden, U.S.

It seems to that if it is so bad, then deal with it, or move. No one is forcing them to stay, are they? What a slap in the face, after you are given a free house, sue the people that gave it to you? Only in America! (and perhaps the UK, where there is blame, there is indeed a claim...)

Naz, Lower Ungton, UK

The housing crisis is supposed to have happened because the peeps that got the loans couldn't afford them. Now we will be told that they couldn't afford to keep up what they got free. Don't go trying to lay all of this on the Tooth Fairy. This is all Dubya's fault. It happened on his watch.

Ralph Yates, Tampa, FL, USA

It's called "getting something for nothing" and that doesn't exist. The typical Habitat "laborer" is not competent to do this work, and is more into it for how it makes them feel and look than any real result. Arrogant office workers think any work done with your hands must be easy. It's not.

Bruno, Atlanta, usa

This is WONDERFUL!

I love it when Liberal causes fall apart because that just shows everyone that age-old truth that you must teach a man HOW to fish! Ha, ha! With Liberals, results do not matter, only "good intentions" are what count...

ignacio perez, dallas, usa

These people need to get a life and quit complaining. Intentions were good thats all that matters in todays world.

Scott, abilene, usa

I wonder how many of these problems are caused by poor maintenance on the part of the resident.

Keith, Ft Myers, USA

This is not a typical Habitat project. This was a photo-op for the worst President who is also the worst former President the US. has ever had. I am on the board of a local Habitat and we do great work. We only build about three houses a year but they are made well and last if maintained.

lulu bert, columbus,ms, usa