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.

Substitute a photo from a Vermont affiliate – perhaps use a flash rotator – have eight photos – one from each affiliate.

On October 3, 2011, Habitat will celebrate building its 500,000th home around the world, providing more than 2 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.

FY2011 is record-setting year for Habitat

Habitat for Humanity helped 81,399 families improve their shelter conditions through new construction, rehabilitation and repairs during its 2011 fiscal year (July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011) in nearly 80 countries around the world. This breaks Habitat's previous record set in the last fiscal year of 74,960 families served.

In the U.S., 9,098 families were served, which is also a record.

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 over $100,000 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 25 to 30 years.· In some cases, the length of the mortgage could be longer.

What are Habitat affiliates?
Habitat for Humanity’s work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates—independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area—fund raising, building site selection, partner family selection and support, house construction, and mortgage servicing.

Habitat for Humanity International’s operational headquarters, located in Americus, Georgia, USA, and its administrative headquarters, located in Atlanta, Georgia, provide information, training and a variety of other support services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

All Habitat affiliates are asked to “tithe”—to give 10 percent of their contributions to fund house-building work in other nations. Tithing provides much-needed funds for international building, and it also gives affiliates the opportunity to demonstrate the spirit of Christian partnership. In 2001, U.S. affiliates tithed $9.04 million to support Habitat’s work overseas. Some affiliates in developing countries also receive funding grants from Habitat for Humanity International.

As of December 31, 2011, Vermont affiliates have contributed sufficient funds through the tithe program to build 149 homes internationally.  When the tithe program first started, it cost on average $1,500 to build a home internationally,  In 2011 dollars, it now costs on average $4,500 for each home.  The standard of decent, sufficient, safe, and affordable housing is relative and is different for each country.  Vermont affiliates are very proud of the fact that we are acting locally and making a difference globally!

Where does Habitat for Humanity 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. 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.
Ways to become involved and to contribute to Vermont affiliates

• Click this link to get generic information about how to volunteer with links to the volunteer coordinator for each ·Vermont affiliate
• Political activism – we urge people who are concerned about the need for affordable housing in Vermont to let their representatives know about their concern. By clicking this link: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm you will go to a page with contact information for Vermont state representatives and senators.
• How to contribute – click on this link to review a generic statement about the relationship with Habitat International – how supporting local work relates to the tithe – one house here – one house internationally – urging Vermonters to think globally and to become involved and invested locally.

Contact information for Habitat International
Website - http://www.habitat.org
Phone - 1-800-422-4828 (1-800-HABITAT)