Habitat for Humanity fact sheet (frequently asked questions) -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
Habitat for Humanity fact sheet (frequently asked questions)
What is Habitat for Humanity International?
- A nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry.
- Founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda.
- Seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
- Inviting people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
- Today, we have helped build over 500,000 decent, affordable houses and served more than 2 million people around the world.
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Habitat volunteers and homeowners build side-by-side in New Orleans, Louisiana
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How does it work?
- Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families.
- In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
- Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans.
- The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.
How are 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 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.
What are Habitat affiliates?
- Community-level Habitat for Humanity offices that act in partnership with and on behalf of Habitat for Humanity International.
- Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area.
Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
- Worldwide.
- Our operational headquarters are located in Americus, Georgia and our administrative headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
How are donations distributed and used?
- As designated by the donor.
- Gifts designated to a specific affiliate or building project are forwarded to that affiliate or project.
- Undesignated gifts are used where most needed and for administrative expenses.
- Habitat’s most recent audited financial statement is available online.
Who controls and manages Habitat for Humanity International?
- An ecumenical, international board of directors.
- Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing around the world.
- The Habitat headquarters are operated by an administrative staff, professional and support employees, and volunteers.
How does Habitat work with the government?
- We ask legislators and housing regulators to increase support for affordable homeownership and eliminate poverty housing.
- We monitor public policies related to housing, community and international development.
- We advocate policy choices that increase access to decent, affordable housing for people around the world.
- We accept government funds as long as they have no conditions that would violate Habitat’s principles or limit its ability to proclaim its Christian identity.
How can I become a volunteer?
How can I get more information?
- Contact Us.
- Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709-3498, USA.
- 800-HABITAT.
- Email General Questions.