Bay Area - Houston Habitat for Humanity
Facts
- a grassroots Christian
nonprofit organization dedicated
to the elimination of poverty
and substandard housing
worldwide.
- believes that every person
deserves, at least, a simple and
decent place in which to live
and grow into all that God
intends for them to be
- builds or renovates houses
in partnership with families who
qualify for homeownership based
on three criteria: need, a
willingness to partner with HFH
and an ability to repay a
no-interest mortgage
- works with people of all
faiths and people of no faith
- sells its houses at no
profit, with no interest charged
- has built and renovated over
225,000 houses worldwide since
1976
History
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.
How We Do it
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.
Family Selection
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, please check
our
Apply for a Home page where you will
find information on the availability, size,
costs, and sweat equity requirements for Habitat
houses in our area, as well as information on
the application process.
Habitat and its Affiliates
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. Use the
Habitat for Humanity International affiliate
search to find Habitat affiliates in other
areas.
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
Donations are used as designated by the donor.
Gifts received by us that are designated to a
specific building project are forwarded to that
project. Any undesignated gifts are used where
most needed. Our most recent audited financial
statement is available upon request.
Management
Our 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 in our community. We
operate with an administrative staff, assisted
by a core group of clerical and support
employees and supplemented by long-term and
short-term volunteers.
Government Support
Habitat does not accept government funds for the
construction of new houses or for the renovation
or repair of existing houses. Ocassionally, we
accept government funds for "stage-setting"
infrastructure needs (streets, sewers, etc.) ,
or for the acquisition of land, so long as the
funds have no strings attached that would
violate Habitat's principles.
