LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The founder of Habitat for Humanity International said Wednesday 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 of Public Service that blame fell on those living in excess of what they can afford. He said the crisis even has forced some families out of homes built by the nonprofit he once headed.

“We have confused, as a society, wants and needs, and a lot of people have raised up their wants way above their needs and way above their abilities to support all those wants,” Fuller said. “What we have got to do is get back to the basics in difficult economic times like this and explain to people that you will not wither up and die if you don’t have that wide-screen TV.”

After his speech, Fuller told The Associated Press that blame also fell on those lenders who set adjustable-rate mortgages it knew buyers couldn’t pay for. He said such firms should be “ashamed” to make such arrangements with buyers, even if those purchasing the home should have known better.

“The lenders are more sophisticated in finance than some of these homeowners are and they have a responsibility,” Fuller said. “What they were doing was just irresponsibly trying to sell the biggest and most expensive houses they could and not explaining the fine print to people.”

Fuller and his wife Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976, which gave homes to those with a need, able to handle a no-interest mortgage, and willing to invest “sweat equity” by working on their homes or other Habitat homes. Under his watch, the organization grew to building homes in 100 countries.

Fuller was fired from Habitat’s presidency in January 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.