Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, 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 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 labour 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 labour—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 low-income families because there is no profit included in the sale price. Mortgage length varies from seven to 30 years.
St David’s has supported Habitat in Romania for a number of years with funds for construction, and volunteers have regularly joined international teams spending a week or more in Romania helping build, alongside the families.For much more about Habitat for Humanity International view the website: www.habitat.org
Or speak to Andrew Maxwell-Wood about what we have done so far !!
