Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Habitat for Humanity International?
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million 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.

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 and financed with affordable 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 nearly $60,000 in the United States. Habitat houses are affordable for economically disadvantaged families because there is no profit included in the sale price. Mortgage length varies from seven to 30 years.

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 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.

Where does Habitat for Humanity International operate?
Habitat is a worldwide, grassroots movement. Habitat has a presence in more than 90 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Habitat is a grassroots movement. Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form an HFHI affiliate in their community. Fund raising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI’s headquarters office, located in Americus, Georgia, USA, provides information, training, and a variety of other support services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

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. HFHI’s most recent audited financial statement is available online.

Who controls and manages Habitat for Humanity International?
An ecumenical, international board of directors determines policy and oversees and guides the mission of Habitat for Humanity International. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing around the world. The HFHI headquarters office operates with an administrative staff, assisted by a core group of professional and support employees and supplemented by long-term and short-term volunteers. Each Habitat for Humanity affiliate is managed by a local volunteer board.

How does Habitat work with the government?
Habitat for Humanity International welcomes partnerships with governments that include accepting funds and other resources to help provide houses for God’s children in need, provided these partnerships do not limit our ability to demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, and further provided that affiliates do not become dependent on or controlled by government funds or other funding sources. Local Habitat for Humanity affiliates or Habitat for Humanity International may adopt more specific guidelines as deemed necessary to avoid such dependence or control.

How does a Habitat for Humanity affiliate get started?
Habitat affiliates start when concerned citizens of diverse backgrounds come together to address the problem of poverty housing in their community. These volunteers research the community’s affordable housing needs and resources, and evaluate the potential success of Habitat’s self-help model in their community. The group then applies to HFHI to become an official Habitat affiliate.

If you are interested in eliminating poverty housing in your community, please contact HFHI headquarters for information on establishing a Habitat affiliate. Persons calling from inside the United States can call (800) HABITAT or (800) 422-4828. Those calling from outside the United States may contact HFHI headquarters at 01-229-924-6935.

How can I become a volunteer?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, you can fill out the volunteer form right on this web site. If you prefer you can email our office or call at 402-292-6560.

If you are interested in volunteering at the international headquarters, call 1-800-HABITAT.

Serving internationally: Habitat also needs people to serve as International Partners (IPs) with affiliates around the world. IPs make at least a three-year service commitment. For information on Habitat’s IP Program, call 1-800-HABITAT, ext. 2194 or 2129, from inside the United States; or 01-912-924-6935 from any other country (e-mail: ipp@hfhi.org)

Global Village short-term mission trips: HFHI offers short-term mission opportunities of one to three weeks with its affiliates in the United States and around the world. For more information or to receive a schedule of upcoming trips, call Global Village at 1-800-HABITAT, ext. 2549, from inside the United States; or 01-912-924-6935, ext. 2549, from any other country. (e-mail: gv@hfhi.org) Trips also are listed on Habitat’s Web site at www.habitat.org

How else can I help?
Get involved! Pray for the work of Habitat for Humanity. Contribute financially to HFHI or your local Habitat affiliate, and/or participate in Habitat fund-raising events. HFHI affiliates need people to help build, to serve on committees and to spread the word about Habitat. Write to Habitat at the address below for more information. A wide variety of books, videos and literature is available to help you share Habitat’s vision with others. Materials may be ordered by mail, phone or fax.
HFHI invites you to join in the exciting partnership of building houses with God’s people in need.

Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709-3498
USA
1-800-422-4828
publicinfo@habitat.org

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