SOURCE: https://www.habitat.org/
(According to their website wording & Wikipedia’s):
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing. It was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller. The international operational headquarters are located in Americus, Georgia, United States, with the administrative headquarters located in Atlanta. As of 2023, Habitat for Humanity operates in more than 70 countries.
Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have been champions and groundbreaking voices for affordable, decent housing for all, donating their time and leadership each year to build and improve homes through Habitat’s Carter Work Project.
They offer MANY programs under their umbrella, including but not limited to:
- Home Ownership: Families in need of a decent place to live build safe and affordable homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
- Aging in Place: At Habitat, we partner with families, communities and local organizations across the U.S. to help older adults improve their homes and their quality of life so they can flourish where they live.
- Neighborhood Revitalization: Neighborhood revitalization is a long-term, holistic strategy that supports residents to improve the quality of life in under-resourced communities. Habitat takes a local and community-based approach to neighborhood revitalization to ensure that our work is driven by those with lived experience.
- ‘Cost of Home’ Campaign: Nearly 1 in 6 families pay half or more of their income on housing. Take a stand with Habitat for Humanity as we advocate for policies to improve home affordability.
- Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter: With more than 1.6 billion people across the globe who still lack adequate shelter, our market development programs are continually pursuing new strategies to assist even more families in need of a safe place to call home.
- Advancing Black Ownership: Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live, but a structure of intentional and systemic racial discrimination in the U.S. has created barriers to homeownership for many Black families.
- Disaster Response: With the help of volunteers and donors like you, we are able to provide shelter assistance, education, training and partnerships to the affected individuals who find themselves in unthinkable situations rebuilding after a disaster strikes.
- Financial Education: As a part of the homeownership process, we believe financial education builds a more solid foundation for long-term personal success and helps alleviate any concerns or barriers on the path to homeownership.
- Tithe Program: Through Habitat for Humanity’s tithe program, our U.S. affiliates are expected to contribute 10% of their unrestricted revenue each year in support of Habitat’s global ministry.
- Habitat Capital: Through Habitat Capital, Habitat helps our U.S. affiliates build homes and provide affordable mortgages. Habitat Capital creates and provides financial services and capital that enable equitable homeownership opportunities and affordable housing solutions for underserved people.
- ReStore: Habitat ReStores are retail outlets that sell new and used building and household materials donated by small businesses, large companies, job sites, contractors and individuals. This is a great way to fix/improve your living space affordably! They also sell furniture and other furnishings!
So, find your local HFH site. You can apply for a new home, to fix the one you’re in, to volunteer, etc. If you apply for a new home, you do have to contribute 250 hours of volunteer time, in order to apply for the loan to get your home at a low cost. That time is spent working on your own home and others. That is minimal in comparison to what you can achieve on your own. Plus, the skills learned can help you maintain your home, because HFH trains you. I learned about this through my grandfather, who was a volunteer electrician for them for many, many years. He loved helping people and doing God’s work…and eating lunch with the former President, LOL!
Also, enjoy this story of HFH helping a DV survivor! ***TRIGGER WARNING!*** She does talk about her personal abuse, a bit!
