What is Habitat for Humanity International?
How does it work?
What does a Habitat house cost?
What are Habitat affiliates?
Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
How are the partner families selected?
Who controls and manages Habitat for Humanity International?
How does Habitat work with the government?
How does a Habitat for Humanity affiliate get
started?
How can I get more information?
What is Habitat for Humanity International?
Habitat for Humanity
International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry.
HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world,
and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat
invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses
together in partnership with families in need.
Habitat has built almost 200,000 homes around the
world, providing nearly 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities
with safe, decent, affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard
Fuller along with his wife Linda.
How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat
builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the
homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families
at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners'
monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.
Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down
payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds
of hours of their own labor -- sweat equity -- into building their Habitat
house and the houses of others.
What does a Habitat house cost?
Throughout the world, the cost of houses varies from
as little as $800 in some developing countries to an average of $46,600
in the United States. Habitat houses are affordable for low-income families
because there is no profit included in the sale price and no interest
charged on the mortgage. Mortgage length varies from seven to 30 years.
What are Habitat affiliates?
Habitat for Humanity's work is accomplished at the community level by
affiliates -- independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each
affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local
area -- fund raising, building site selection, partner family selection
and support, house construction and mortgage servicing.
Habitat for Humanity International's headquarters, located in Americus,
Ga., USA, provides information, training and a variety of other support
services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.
All Habitat affiliates are asked to "tithe" – to give
10 percent of their contributions to fund house-building work in other
nations. Tithing provides much-needed funds for international building,
and it also gives affiliates the opportunity to demonstrate the spirit
of Christian partnership. In 2001, U.S. affiliates tithed $9.04 million
to support Habitat's work overseas. Some affiliates in developing countries
also receive funding grants from Habitat for Humanity International.
Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more
than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states
of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
How are the partner families selected?
Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates.
The affiliate's family selection committee chooses homeowners based
on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the
program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. Every affiliate
follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race
nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat
houses.
If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable
housing, contact the Habitat affiliate nearest you. If you're not sure
where a local Habitat affiliate might be, visit Habitat’s
Web site to find the names and phone numbers of affiliates in your
area, or contact the Habitat help line at (800)422-4828, ext. 2551 or
2552. Your local affiliate can give you information on the availability,
size, costs and sweat-equity requirements for Habitat houses in your
area, as well as information on the application process.
Who controls and manages Habitat for Humanity
International?
An ecumenical, international board of directors determines policy and
oversees and guides the mission of Habitat for Humanity International.
Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about
the problems of poverty housing around the world.
The HFHI headquarters office operates with an administrative staff,
assisted by a core group of professional and support employees and supplemented
by long-term and short-term volunteers. Each Habitat for Humanity affiliate
is managed by its own local volunteer board.
How does Habitat work with the government?
Habitat for Humanity International is not a government agency, nor does
it accept government funds for the construction of houses. However,
Habitat considers all levels of government and governmental agencies
important partners in its mission to eliminate poverty housing. We encourage
governments to do what they can to help alleviate the suffering of all
those who have no decent, adequate place to live.
Habitat for Humanity welcomes partnerships with governments to help
"set the stage" for the construction of houses. Stage-setting
funding and gifts might include land, houses for rehabilitation, infrastructure
for streets, utilities and administrative expenses.
How does a Habitat for Humanity affiliate get
started?
Habitat affiliates start when concerned citizens
of diverse backgrounds come together to address the problem of poverty
housing in their community. These volunteers research the community's
affordable housing needs and resources, and evaluate the potential success
of Habitat's self-help model in their community. The group then applies
to HFHI to become an official Habitat affiliate.
How can I get more information?
For additional information, write or phone:
Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709-3498
U.S.A.
(229) 924-6935
publicinfo@habitat.org
