Habitat for Humanity International builds, rehabilitates and repairs simple, decent houses with the help of homeowner (known as “partner”) families, volunteer labor, and donations of money and materials. Architects, engineers, bricklayers, mason, carpenters and other professionals and skilled workers are employed for specialist jobs. For more information check out the Habitat For Humanity web site at http://www.habitat.org/ap/
The cost of the work varies. A new house can cost from as little as US$1,000 in some parts of Asia. Costs depend on location, labor, land and material costs, and ancillary development expenses.
Habitat houses are sold to home partner families at no profit. Home partners repay through affordable, no-profit, inflation-adjusted mortgage loans. Mortgage lengths vary from four to 30 years, though most are around six to eight years. Their monthly mortgage payments go into a local revolving fund to be used to build still more Habitat homes. In short, Habitat for Humanity is not a “giveaway” program.
Home partners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – “sweat equity” – into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. Home partner families are selected based on their level of need, their ability to repay the loan and their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat.
