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 from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Habitat has built more than 90,000 houses around the world, providing some 450,000 people in more than 2,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. How does it work? Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat renovates and builds 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 go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses. Habitat carries out its mission at the community level through organized groups that we call affiliates. Affiliates around the world raise the funds used to construct houses. Some affiliates in developing countries also receive funding grants from Habitat for Humanity International. All Habitat affiliates are asked to tithe - to give 10 percent of their contributions to fund house building work in other nations. Habitat is not a give-away 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 house and the houses of others. What does a Habitat house cost? Throughout the world, the cost of houses varies. As an example, the average house cost in Kyrgyzstan is $3000 while the average house price in Romania is $10,000. 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. 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 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. How are donations distributed and used? HFHI�s most recent audited financial statement is available upon request. Who directs Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates? Habitat is a grassroots movement. Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form an HFHI affiliate in their community. Each Habitat for Humanity affiliate is managed by a local volunteer board. Fund raising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI�s headquarters office, located in Americus, Georgia, USA, provides information, training, and a variety of other support services to Habitat affiliates worldwide. An ecumenical, international board of directors determines policy and oversees and guides the mission of Habitat for Humanity International. Board members at all levels are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing around the world. How does Habitat work with the government? 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 streets, utilities and administrative expenses, so long as the funds have no conditions that would violate Habitat�s principles or limit its ability to proclaim its Christian witness. How else can I help? Get involved! Pray for the work of Habitat for Humanity. Volunteer with your local affiliate. Contribute financially to HFH in Portugal or your local Habitat affiliate, and/or participate in Habitat fund-raising events. HFHI affiliates need people to help build, to serve on committees and to spread the word about Habitat. Write to Habitat at the address above for more information. HFHI invites you to join in the exciting partnership of building houses with God�s people in need. Home | What is Habitat? | Portugal Build 2000 | How You Can Help | Contact Us |
