Habitat Fact and Fancy

Questions You've Asked About Habitat for Humanity

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 400,000 houses 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.

What is Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads?

Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads (Habitat SHR) is a nonprofit, faith-based affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat SHR seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the seven geographical entities that make up South Hampton Roads; Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Smithfield and Isle of Wight County.

Habitat SHR has built and renovated more than 180 homes in our communities since 1988.

Don't Habitat houses reduce a neighborhood's property values?

MYTH! Housing studies show affordable housing has no adverse effect on neighborhood property values. In fact. Habitat houses have proven to increase property values and local government tax income.

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.

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 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 your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, contact the Habitat affiliate nearest you. 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. Your local affiliate can give you information on the availability, size, costs and sweat-equity requirements for Habitat houses in your area, as well as information on the application process.

Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
  • Worldwide, including more than 90 countries and in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use our search engine to find local affiliates and connect with Habitat in your community.
  • Our operational headquarters are located in Americus, Georgia, USA
  • Our administrative headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
What does a Habitat house cost?
  • From $800 in US dollars in some developing countries to an average of nearly US$80,000 in the United States.
  • The cost of a Habitat home in South Hampton Roads is $100,000.
  • Mortgage lengths vary from 7 to more than 30 years.
Don't I have to be a Christian to become a Habitat home owner?
Habitat homeowners are chosen without regard to race, religion or ethnic group, in keeping with U.S. law and with Habitat's abiding belief that God's love extends to everyone. Habitat also welcomes volunteers from all faiths, or no faith, who actively embrace Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing from the world.
Wasn't Habitat for Humanity founded by President Jimmy Carter?
Habitat was started in 1976 in Americus, Ga., by the late Millard Fuller and his wife Linda. President Carter and his wife Rosalynn (whose home is eight miles from Americus, in Plains, Ga.), have been longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national attention to the organization's house-building work. Each year, they lead the Jimmy Carter Work Project to help build houses and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing.
How does Habitat work with the government?
  • Our Government Relations and Advocacy team works with legislators and housing regulators to increase support for affordable homeownership and eliminate poverty housing.
  • We monitor public policies related to housing, community and international development.
  • We advocate policy choices that increase access to decent, affordable housing for people around the world.
  • We accept government funds for infrastructure, utilities, capacity building or training, and house building. We accept these funds so long as they have no conditions that would violate Habitat’s principles or limit its ability to proclaim its Christian identity.