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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. What is Habitat for Humanity? Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) 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 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 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. 2. 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. In Minnesota, there are 35 locally formed and governed Habitat for Humanity affiliates that accomplish homebuilding activities. These affiliates have built over 1,500 homes in Minnesota. Every year in Minnesota over 30,000 individuals contribute their time, effort, and skills to building Habitat homes. 3. What is Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota? Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota, Inc. (HFH-MN) is a statewide resource development and support organization that serves, advocates for and advances the work of Minnesota’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need. HFH-MN was created in October 1997 by the Minnesota Habitat affiliates to assist them with working collaboratively to jointly apply for funding and to provide funders with a single point for the distribution of resources. 4. What has Habitat Minnesota accomplished in the 10 years it has been in existence? In 1997, when HFH-MN was created, Minnesota’s Habitat affiliates were building homes at the rate of 70 per year -- they are now building homes at the rate of nearly 130 per year. In five years, we anticipate increasing construction to the level of 200 homes annually. In 1997, we broke ground on the 350th Habitat home to be built in Minnesota. In 2007, we broke ground on the 1,500th Habitat home to be built in Minnesota. HFH-MN has helped advance the work of affiliates by providing funding / financing / resources to affiliates totaling over $41 million. Included in this number is $33.8 million in loan funding, $3.8 million in Federal Home Loan Bank funding, $3.3 million in funds raised through the Habitat 500 Bike Ride, and 118 VISTAs placed with Habitat affiliates. 5. So, the Habitat Minnesota programs are designed to help affiliates be successful, how can my affiliate participate in your programs? Habitat Minnesota offers a wide range of programs to help advance the work of Minnesota Habitat affiliates. To learn more about each of these programs, please click on the Affiliate Programs button above to view the drop down menu of programs offered by Habitat Minnesota. If you would like to see information about how each of these programs has been operated over the course of the past few years, please access our Annual Reports for detailed information about the resources distributed and program dynamics. 6. I see that the 35 Habitat for Humanity affiliates have built 1500 homes in Minnesota, how many homes are built each year and what do they cost to build? In calendar year 2006, the 35 Minnesota Habitat for Humanity affiliates built 127 homes. Of those, 76 were built in Greater Minnesota with the remaining 51 built in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Home costs vary greatly throughout the different regions of the state with the cost of land constituting the greatest cause of the variance. Homes built in the Twin Cities cost $182,100 on average. Those homes built in urban areas of Greater Minnesota average $88,000, with those homes built in rural areas of Greater Minnesota averaging $85,000. 7. What is new? Please visit the News section of this web site to learn more about what is new at Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota. 8. What exactly are Habitat affiliates? Habitat for Humanity’s work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates — independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate was created by and is governed by members of the community it serves. 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. All Habitat affiliates are asked to “tithe” — to give 10 percent of their contributions to fund Habitat’s 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. 9. How do I become a homeowner? 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, click here for a map of the Habitat affiliates serving Minnesota. 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. 10. How do I volunteer to help build a Habitat home? There are 35 Habitat for Humanity affiliates collectively building 130 homes per year throughout Minnesota. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the affiliate nearest you contact them by phone or e-mail using the contact information provided under the Find a Local Affiliate under the Get Involved button above. |
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Office: 2401 Lowry Ave. NE #210,
Minneapolis, MN 55418 |
