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 of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
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.
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.
Key Milestones
1976 - Habitat for Humanity International founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, by Millard Fuller and his wife Linda; in September, construction begins on House No. 1 in San Antonio, Texas, Habitat's first affiliate
1979 - HFHI headquarters moves from Millard Fuller's law office to a renovated house next door; the first Habitat house in Americus is built.
1984 - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, become Habitat partners and the first Jimmy Carter Work Project is held in New York City. The Tithe program is written into the U.S. affiliate covenant.
1988 - HFHI celebrates its 12th anniversary with a walk from Portland, Maine to Atlanta, Ga., 1,200 miles. The Global Village and Corporate Donor departments are established. The firs affiliate in Australia begins.
1991 – 10,000th Habitat house dedicated in April in Atlanta, Georgia; Habitat's first all-women-built house completed in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1993 - The 20,000th Habitat house built worldwide is dedicated in Americus. The Church Relations program is formed. The Entebbe Initiative is begun and affiliates around the world are expected to tithe on the funds raised locally.
1994 - The 30,000th Habitat house built worldwide is dedicated in Americus.
1996 - Habitat's 50,000th house is dedicated in September in Pensacola, Florida.
1997 - Oprah Winfrey launches her “Build an Oprah House” Project. Habitat's 60,000th house dedicated in Dallas, Texas.
1998 - Habitat's 70,000th house is dedicated in Canton, Ohio. HFHI establishes Women Build Department.
2000 - Habitat's 100,000th house is dedicated in September in New York City; victory is declared over substandard housing in Americus/Sumter Country, Georgia, home to Habitat for Humanity International since its founding.
2001 - HFHI celebrates its 25th anniversary in Indianapolis, Indiana. U.S. President George W. Bush works on a Habitat for Humanity home in Tampa, Florida.
2005 – HFHI expects to dedicate its 200,000 th house and celebrate the fact that some one million people will be living in Habitat houses worldwide.
Habitat for Humanity Fact Sheet
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.
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.
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 its own local volunteer board.
How does Habitat work with the government?
Habitat for Humanity International is not a government agency, nor does it accept government funds for the construction of houses. However, Habitat considers all levels of government and governmental agencies important partners in its mission to eliminate poverty housing. We encourage governments to do what they can to help alleviate the suffering of all those who have no decent, adequate place to live.
Habitat for Humanity welcomes partnerships with governments to help "set the stage" for the construction of houses. Stage-setting funding and gifts might include land, houses for rehabilitation, infrastructure for streets, utilities and administrative expenses.
