What has Habitat accomplished?
Habitat has built more than 175,000 houses around the world, providing more than 750,000 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. Click here to learn more.
How does Habitat 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.
How much 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.
Click here to learn more.
What effect can owning a Habitat home have on children?
Children of homeowners have performed 9% higher in math, 7% higher in reading, are 25% more likely to graduate from high school and two times more likely to go to college then children of non-homeowners. You can see how important Habitat's mission is on children.
Where does Habitat 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. Use our affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in your area.
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.
If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, and you live
within the areas covered by the Millstone Basin Area affiliate, contact us.
If you're either outside this area or are not sure where a local Habitat affiliate might be,
use our affiliate search engine
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.
How can become involved?
We are always looking for good, dedicated people who are willing to help, and there are plenty of open opportunities to choose from, so we're sure we can find something that works for you. Click here to visit our volunteers page and find out more.
How can I learn more?
If you can't find what you're looking for, email us or leave us a message at (609) 443-8744 and we'll return you call and help you find what you're looking for. You may also learn more from the Habitat for Humanity International Fact Sheet.
