About Habitat for Humanity International

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry working globally to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. HFHI invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. HFHI has built more than 200,000 homes worldwide, providing over one million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Now at work in 100 countries, a Habitat house is completed every 26 minutes.

Homeowner Lois Witcher's new Habitat house in Plains, Georgia, USA. (Her old home is pictured in the foreground.)

Habitat for Humanity's work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates like Flower City Habitat -- independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. 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 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. In 2001, U.S. affiliates tithed $9.04 million to support Habitat's work overseas. Some affiliates in developing countries also receive funding grants from Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, in addition to all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Habitat for Humanity International's headquarters, located in Atlanta, Georgia, provides information, training and a variety of other support services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

Visit www.habitat.org to learn more.