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Some facts about
Habitat for Humanity |
How
does it 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. |
What
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. |
What
are Habitat affiliates?
Habitat for Humanity's work is accomplished at the
community level by affiliates -- independent,
locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate
coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in
its local area -- fund raising, building site
selection, partner family selection and support,
house construction and mortgage servicing.
Habitat for Humanity International's headquarters,
located in Americus, Ga., USA, provides information,
training and a variety of other support services to
Habitat affiliates worldwide.
All Habitat affiliates are asked to "tithe" -- to
give 10 percent of their contributions to fund
house-building work in other nations. Tithing
provides much-needed funds for international
building, and it also gives affiliates the
opportunity to demonstrate the spirit of Christian
partnership. In 2001, U.S. affiliates tithed $9.04
million to support Habitat's work overseas. Some
affiliates in developing countries also receive
funding grants from Habitat for Humanity
International. |
Where does
Habitat for Humanity 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.
See our
Habitat Affiliates Worldwide section for
information on each country in which Habitat is
at work, including progress reports, project
descriptions and affordable housing needs. |
How
are the 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, contact the Habitat
affiliate nearest you. If you're not sure where a
local Habitat affiliate might be, use our
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
are donations distributed and used?
Donations, whether to a local Habitat affiliate or
to HFHI, are used as designated by the donor. Gifts
received by HFHI that are 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. |
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4Habitat for Humanity of Greater Harrisburg
4717-545-7299
Eve Wachhaus, Exec.Dir.
ewachhaus@paonline.com
Christine Guss, Dir. of Dev.
cguss@paonline.com
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4York Habitat for
Humanity
4717-854-6168
Francesca Spero, Exec.Dir.
francesca@yorkhabitat.org
Jason McSherry Marketing Dir.
Jason@yorkhabitat.org
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4Habitat for Humanity
of Lancaster County
4717- 392-8836
Stacie Reidenbaugh, Dep. Dir.
stacie@lancasterhabitat.org
Stacie Reidenbaugh, Exec.Dir.
stacie@lancasterhabitat.org
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4Cumberland Valley
Habitat for Humanity
4717-258-1830
Jerry Nichols, Exec.Dir.
cvhfh@earthlink.net
Lynda Myers, Dir. of
Dev.
rd-cvhfh@earthlink.net
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4Habitat for
Humanity of Lebanon County
4717-228-1490
Pam Tricamo, Exec.Dir.
habitatpam@nbn.net |
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4Habitat for
Humanity International, Northeast Region
4800-434-5463
Lisa Reitz
habitatnortheast@hfhi.org
Barb Daugherty, Admin Associate-INFO CENTRAL
bdaugherty@hfhi.org |
