Frequently Asked Questions

Since its beginnings in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built more than 100,000 houses worldwide. Habitat builds in all 50 states and nearly 80 other countries around the world. HFHI has the distinction of being the largest nonprofit homebuilder in the U.S. Even so, many misconceptions about its work persist. Here, Habitat for Humanity dispels some of those myths.

Q: Why does Habitat help people in foreign countries?

A: In the words of the 17th century philosopher John Comenius, “We are all citizens of the world…. Let us have but one end in view-the welfare of humanity.” Together, Habitat’s vision of a world with no more shacks can be realized.

Q: Does Wild Rivers Habitat donate any money to Habitat International?

A: Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity, as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, tithes 10% of its unrestricted cash donations to Habitat International. Habitat International uses the money to build homes in other countries.

Q: What is the Jimmy Carter Work Project?

A: The Jimmy Carter Work Project is an internationally recognized event at which Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter join Habitat volunteers from around the world to build homes and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing.

Q: How does Habitat work with the government?

A: We believe government can play an important part in the effort to eliminate substandard housing. The need for housing is so great all interested groups must work together to meet the crisis. We will consider accepting funds from the government for certain items.

Q: What is sweat equity?

A: Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor-“sweat equity”-into building their Habitat home and the homes of others. Sweat equity helps reduce the cost of the home, increases the personal stake of the family members in their home, and fosters the development of partnerships with other people in the community.

Q: Where does the money to build a home come from?

A: Individuals and organizations donate money that is used to purchase land and materials. Habitat is not a government agency. We depend on your contributions to pay the bills.

Q: What does a Habitat home cost?

A: Our families' no-interest mortagages are now usually about $70,000, with a monthly payment of about $400.

Q: Why is Habitat needed?

A: “There are three main reasons for the affordable housing crisis in America: 1. the rise in home construction costs, 2. the decrease in real wages, 3. and the loss of millions of affordable apartments during the past 20 years.” -The Low Income Housing Information Service, March 1995- The causes of substandard housing and homelessness are many. Millions of people are displaced due to war, famine and natural disasters. Millions more languish in the poverty and squalor in much of the developing world. In the United States, the wages of low-income families have not kept pace with rising rents and mortgage requirements, while at the same time many low-cost housing units have either been abandoned or demolished, or have been converted into higher-cost units.

Q: What is Habitat for Humanity International?

A: Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Q: How does it work?

A: Through volunteer labor, tax deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent homes with the help of the homeowner families. Habitat homes are sold at no profit, financed with affordable no-interest loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity which supports the program and construction of new homes.

Q: What is Habitat and what is its purpose?

A. Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. It is an ecumenical, nonprofit, 501 (c ) (3) organization that builds simple, decent homes for low-income families in need. It is the purpose of Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity to create partnerships between low-income families in need, volunteers and organizations with financial and material resources.

Use our partnerships to build simple, decent homes to be sold to low-income families at no profit.
Select families based on need, ability to work in partnership, and no discrimination on the basis of race, creed, or ethnic background.
Do more than build and sell homes. We will engage in a people-to-people partnership ministry with an international goal of empowerment of persons to become responsible homeowners.

Q: Is poverty housing such a large problem that it can never be solved?

A: Poverty housing is a huge issue. But Habitat believes that by continuing to build houses with those in need, by working with other committed groups, and by putting the issue of poverty housing on the hearts and minds of compassionate people everywhere, the problem can be solved. One of its initiatives in fact, is a project to prove just that. Habitat, along with local groups, organized the Sumter County Initiative nine years ago with the goal of eliminating all substandard housing from Sumter County, GA., (where HFHI's headquarters office is located) by the year 2000. That goal has since been met, and has given rise to the 21st Century Challenge Initiative. Under this program, Habitat affiliates everywhere, are being urged to set a target date for wiping out substandard housing in their communities.

Q: Does Habitat for Humanity build only in cities or only in rural areas?

A: Habitat through local affiliates is at work in large and small cities, in suburbs and rural areas, in highly developed countries and in those with emerging economies. With poverty housing being so widespread, Habitat's work goes on 365 days a year, in hundreds upon hundreds of locations throughout the United States and around the globe. In 2000, a Habitat house was completed somewhere in the world about every 38 minutes.

Q: Is Habitat for Humanity an arm of the government?

A: Habitat for Humanity International is an independent, nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry. It is not an arm of the government, nor is it an arm of any particular church denomination. It does not accept government funds for the construction of new houses or for the renovation or repair of existing houses. However, Habitat does accept government funds for streets, utilities and administrative expenses, as long as the funds have no strings attached that would limit its ability to proclaim its Christian values.

Q: Do Habitat homeowners sell their houses and make a large profit because of the original low cost?

A: Habitat founder and president Millard Fuller addresses this issue in his book, "A Simple, Decent Place to Live: The Building Realization of Habitat for Humanity" (Word Publishing, 1995): "In the two decades of Habitat for Humanity... we have had no history of people selling their houses. Why? Because it's so hard for these families to get the houses in the first place. It's like an impossible dream come true. The fact that they can make a profit is not even an issue because they realize that if they sell it, they won't have a house anymore. And they wouldn't be able to make payments the way the world would demand on a new one, since the bank or someone else attempting to make a big profit would now be the lender." Special second mortgages that are 'paid off' by living in the house, as well as first buy-back option clauses that many affiliates put into their agreement with homeowners also help alleviate concerns that some people may have in this area. At Wild Rivers Habitat, there are also restrictions in place to prevent such a practice. The first is a soft second lien, which is a lien designed to prevent the sale of the house for the first 10 years. The second is a right of first repurchase held by WRHFH. This right of first repurchase restricts the homeowner from selling the house to any entity other than Wild Rivers Habitat during the first 10 years of ownership.

Q: Do Habitat houses lower neighborhood property values?

A: Many studies of low-cost housing show that affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values. In fact, Habitat for Humanity has seen its approach to affordable housing improve neighborhoods and communities by strengthening community spirit, increasing the tax base, and creating conscientious citizens through the cooperative efforts involved in Habitat construction.

Q: Do Habitat houses allow people to move from poverty to plush new houses?

A: Any newly built house is going to be a dramatic change for a family that has been living in a shack or tenement; However Habitat houses are not extravagant by any means. Habitat's philosophy is to build simple, decent homes. Under Habitat's house-design criteria, living space in a three-bedroom home, for example, is not to exceed 1,070 square feet.

Q: Do you have to be a Christian to become a Habitat homeowner, house sponsor or volunteer?

A: Habitat for Humanity was founded as, and remains, a Christian ministry: However, homeowners are chosen without regard to creed, both in keeping with the requirements of the law and Habitat's belief that God's love extends to all regardless of race, creed or nationality. Habitat also welcomes volunteers from all faiths or no faith, who can actively embrace Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing from the world.

Q: Was Habitat for Humanity started by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter?

A: Habitat for Humanity International was started in Americus, Georgia, in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn, (whose home in Plains is just eight miles from Americus), have been longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers. The Carter's involvement brings national and international attention to the organization's house-building work, and their annual "Jimmy Carter Work Project" raises not only houses, but also awareness of the need for affordable housing.

Q: Are Habitat homeowners on welfare?

A: While some Habitat homeowners may receive public assistance, most are the working poor. Habitat for Humanity works in good faith with people who often are at risk in society, knowing that owning a home is not the answer to every problem, but can be an important step often the first step - toward helping people break out of the cycle of poverty.

Q: Does Habitat build houses only for minorities?

A: Habitat doesn't build houses FOR specific groups. Habitat builds houses WITH people in need, without regard to race. Three criteria drive the family selection process: 1. need; 2. ability to repay the no-profit/no-interest mortgage over a 15-30 year period; 3. a willingness to partner with Habitat. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits denying anyone housing on the basis of race, sex, creed, marital status, color or national origin. The covenant signed by all Habitat for Humanity International affiliates, specifies that homeowner families be selected "according to criteria that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or ethnic background.

Q: Does Habitat for Humanity give houses to poor people?

A: Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with those in need and then sells the houses to homeowner partners. Mortgage payments can be kept affordable for families unable to obtain conventional financing for a home because of low down payments; no-profit/no-interest loans and Habitat homes are built principally by volunteers. Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 25-50 percent of the median area income. Homeowner's are required to invest 300-500 hours of "sweat equity" - time spent building on their own house or other Habitat houses. Wild Rivers Habitat applicants must meet specific criteria. Please refer to the Home Ownership link above for details.