How does it work?

Habitat is Giving a Hand Up...not a Hand out

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent homes with the help of the homeowner (Habitat partner) families.

Habitat homes are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments become our Fund for Humanity which is then used to build still more Habitat homes.

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 home and homes for others.

Operating Principles

• We build quality, affordable, simple and decent homes.
• We are an organization founded on Christian principles; we welcome all people to participate in our organization.
• We provide the opportunity for home ownership to people who might not otherwise become homeowners.
• We recognize that one strength of Habitat is the central role volunteers play in our work.
• We work in partnership with the people who purchase our homes, providing support and counsel to help them succeed in home ownership.
• We bring the community and our partner families together in the home building process.
• We work to assure that our families and homes are assets to the surrounding neighborhood.
• We seek to partner with others in the community to address affordable housing issues.