Founded
in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity
International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian
housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard
housing and homelessness worldwide and to making
adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and
action. Habitat invites people from all faiths and walks
of life to work together in partnership, building houses
with families in need. Habitat has built some 70,000
houses around the world, providing more than 350,000
people with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible 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 recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity
that is used to build more houses.
Currently, a three-bedroom Habitat house in the United
States costs the homeowner an average of $42,500. Prices
will differ slightly depending on location and the costs
of land, professional labor and materials. In developing
nations, a Habitat house costs $700-$5,000, depending on
design, materials and location. 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. The average length of a Habitat mortgage
in the United States is 20 years. Internationally,
mortgage length varies from 7 to 30 years.
Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor
- "sweat equity" - into building their Habitat
house and the houses of others. Sweat equity reduces the
monetary cost of the house, increases the personal stake
of the family members in their house, and fosters the
development of partnerships with other people in the
community. The amount and type of sweat equity required
of each partner family vary from affiliate to
affiliate--300 to 500 hours per family is common.
Whether in the U.S. or overseas, families in need
apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate's family
selection committee considers applicants' level of need,
their willingness to become partners in the Habitat
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 Habitat homeowner families.
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, contact the Habitat help line at
(912)924-6935, 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.
There are now more than 1,300 active affiliates
located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
There also are more than 250 international affiliates
coordinating some 800 building projects in 59 other
countries around the world.
Habitat is a grass-roots movement. Concerned citizens
from all walks of life come together as volunteers to
form a Habitat affiliate in their community. Fundraising,
house construction, family selection and other key
decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI
headquarters, located in Americus, Ga., provides
information, training, support and other services to
Habitat affiliates worldwide.
Donations, whether to a local Habitat affiliate or to
HFHI headquarters, are used as designated by the donor.
Gifts received by HFHI headquarters that are designated
to a specific affiliate or building project are forwarded
to that affiliate or project. Any undesignated gifts are
used where most needed. HFHI's most recent audited
financial statement is available upon request.
Due to the extreme poverty found in many developing
nations, Habitat affiliates in developing countries often
receive funds for house building from HFHI. All Habitat
affiliates are asked to "tithe" -- to give 10%
of their unrestricted cash contributions to fund house
building work in developing nations. However,
international affiliates raise as much of their funding
as possible locally.
An ecumenical, international board of directors
determines policy and monitors operations in conjunction
with a board of advisors. Board members are dedicated
volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of
poverty housing around the world. HFHI headquarters
operates with an administrative staff, assisted by a core
group of clerical and support employees and supplemented
by long-term and short-term volunteers. Each Habitat for
Humanity affiliate is managed by a local volunteer board.
Habitat does not accept government funds for the
construction of new houses or for the renovation or
repair of existing houses. Habitat does accept government
funds for the acquisition of land or houses in need of
rehabilitation. Habitat also accepts government funds for
"stage-setting" infrastructure needs (streets,
sewers, etc.) so long as the funds have no strings
attached that would violate Habitat's principles or limit
its ability to proclaim its Christian witness.
For additional information, write or phone our
international headquarters:
Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709-3498
(912)924-6935
