Fuller: Need for housing for poor still great (UALR Public Radio) - The founder of Habitat for Humanity International says the nation's current mortgage crisis stems from a greed-fueled society confused about its wants and needs.

Millard Fuller told an audience at the University of Arkansas Clinton School for Public Service that blame fell on those living in excess of what they can afford. He says the crisis even has forced some families out of homes built by the nonprofit he once headed.

Fuller says he tries to explain to people that (quoet) "you will not wither up and die if you don't have that wide-screen TV."

Afterward, Fuller also said blame falls on those lenders who set adjustable-rate mortgages it knew buyers couldn't pay for. He says such firms should be "ashamed" to make such arrangements with buyers, even if those purchasing the home should have known better.

Fuller and his wife Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976. Under his watch, the organization grew to building homes in 100 countries.

Fuller was fired from Habitat's presidency in 2005 after more than a year of tension sparked by allegations that he sexually harassed a female colleague. Habitat's board concluded there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the charge and the official reason for the dismissal was a pattern of divisive and disruptive comments.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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