|
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 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.
2. How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with partner families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses.
Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and mortgage payments, a homeowner invests hundreds of hours of labor — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
In Minnesota, there are 33 locally formed and governed
Habitat for Humanity affiliates that
accomplish homebuilding activities. These
affiliates have built over 1,800 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 who build simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need.
HFH-MN was created in October, 1997, by the Minnesota
Habitat affiliates to apply for funding
and to provide funders with a single
contact for the distribution of resources.
Like
HFHI, HFH-MN
is also founded on christian principles.
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. In 2010,
they were building homes at the rate
of nearly 125 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 2010, we
broke ground on the 1,800th Habitat home
to be built in Minnesota.
HFH-MN has helped affiliates by providing funding,
financing, and resources to affiliates
totaling over $55 million, including
$43 million in loan funding, $4.6 million
in Federal Home Loan Bank funding, $2.5
million in funds raised through the Habitat
500 Bike Ride, $580,320 in CRV grants,
and 200 VISTAs placed with Habitat affiliates.
5. So, the Habitat Minnesota programs are designed to help affiliates be successful. How can my affiliate participate?
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, see the Affiliate Programs menu above.
If you would like to see information about how each of these programs has operated over the past few years, see our Annual Reports for details.
6. I see that the 33 Habitat for Humanity affiliates
have built 1,800 homes in Minnesota.
How many homes are built each year
and what do they cost to build?
In fiscal year 2010, the 33 Minnesota
Habitat for Humanity affiliates built
125 homes.
Of those, 73 were built in Greater Minnesota
with the remaining 52 built in the Twin
Cities Metro Area. Home costs vary throughout
the regions of the state, especially
the cost of land. Homes built in the
Twin Cities cost $182,100 on average.
In greater Minnesota, homes built in
urban areas average $105,000, while homes
built in rural
areas average
$90,000.
7. What is new?
Visit the News page to learn about recent activities.
8. What 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 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 families become a homeowner?
Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses families 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 a Habitat affiliate. See the map of affiliates. They can give you information on the availability, size, costs and sweat-equity requirements for Habitat houses in their area and information about the application process.
10. How do I volunteer to help build a Habitat home?
Thirty-three Habitat for Humanity affiliates
collectively build 125 homes per year
throughout Minnesota. To learn more
about volunteer opportunities with
the affiliate nearest you, see the list of affiliates.
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota
Office: 2401 Lowry Ave NE, #210
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Phone: 612.331.4439
Fax: 612.789.0846
|
