FAQs

Habitat partners with qualified families to create affordable housing in safe and stable environments. These families take budgeting and home ownership classes and contribute 250 sweat equity hours for each adult toward the construction of their home. They pay a down payment of $500 as well as monthly mortgage payments on a 20 -30 year, no interest loan held by HFHGC. Homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments create a revolving "Fund for Humanity" that is used to construct other homes.

Throughout the world, the cost of houses varies from as little as $800 in some developing countries to an average of nearly $60,000 in the United States. Habitat houses are affordable for low-income families because there is no profit included in the sale price. Mortgage length varies from 20 to 30 years.

Habitat for Humanity’s work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates — 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.

Habitat for Humanity International’s operational headquarters, located in Americus, Georgia, USA, and its administrative headquarters, located in Atlanta, Georgia, provide information, training and a variety of other support services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

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.

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 non-discriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.

Donations, whether to a local Habitat affiliate or to HFHI, are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by HFHI that are designated to a specific affiliate or building project are forwarded to that affiliate or project. Undesignated gifts are used where most needed and for administrative expenses.

An ecumenical, international board of directors determines policy and oversees and guides the mission of Habitat for Humanity International. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing around the world.

The HFHI headquarters office operates with an administrative staff, assisted by a core group of professional and support employees and supplemented by volunteers. Each Habitat for Humanity affiliate is managed by its own local volunteer board.

Habitat for Humanity International welcomes partnerships with governments that include accepting funds and other resources to help provide houses for God’s children in need, provided these partnerships do not limit our ability to demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, and further provided that affiliates do not become dependent on or controlled by government funds or other funding sources. Local Habitat for Humanity affiliates or Habitat for Humanity International may adopt more specific guidelines as deemed necessary to avoid such dependence or control.

Habitat for Humanity has locations called ReStore's where these donations are accepted and then sold to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Find out more information about the HFHGC Resale Store.

Habitat construction work sites operate on a varying schedule. Check on the Current Build Schedule page for exact dates and times volunteers are needed.

No! If you do not call ahead however, on a rare occasion, if too many volunteers come and it would hinder safety at the job site, you may be asked to come back another day. We want you to be able to volunteer when it suits your schedule. Just be on time, wear sturdy shoes, and bring the tools listed and have a great time!

You must be at least 16 years old to work on a construction site. 16 and 17-year olds must have a parent or guardian sign a Minor’s Release of Liability and bring this form to the job site. Those under 18 must not use power tools, climb ladders, or work on scaffolding or the roof. Volunteers 18 and older can sign the release at the build site.

That's great! Saturday is our big volunteer day with often more than 20 people on each site.

Arrangements for groups to volunteer should be made in advance with the Volunteer Coordinator. If you have a group or have further questions please contact us.

The commitment is up to you. Volunteer just once or as often as you wish; however, you will not receive phone calls or emails to volunteer in construction unless you request them from the volunteer coordinator.

No specific skills, except a willingness to learn, is needed. We always provide an experienced crew leader on each house build work site who'll provide you on-the-job training.

Each volunteer is asked to bring a set of basic tools: hammer, nail apron, tape measure and pencil, if they can. If you have other basic tools, for example a utility knife, gloves, siding snips, etc. you may want to bring them. Please label all of your tools with your name or initials. At certain periods during a build you may be expected to wear a hard hat and safety glasses. Lunches are provided on Saturdays only.

At the beginning of each workday, a Habitat Site Supervisor will start the morning with a prayer and introductions, a safety talk, and instructions. The group will then break into crews to work on the various building tasks. You'll be asked to sign a Release of Liability. You can print it and bring it along to save time.

HFHGC is blessed to have a wonderful group of regular weekday volunteers. Often, the same group of folks volunteer on the same day every week and enjoy the long term relationships they develop with other volunteers and with our staff. They always welcome new additions, you can contact our volunteer coordinator to find out where we are working each day. These folks do a lot of the finishing and preparatory work so that house build sites are ready for our big volunteer days on Saturday. 

Each Habitat volunteer must sign a Release of Liability form agreeing to take personal responsibility for any accidents or injuries on the job. Most individuals have a personal health insurance plan that covers them while engaged in volunteer work. However, you should verify your coverage prior to coming to the work site.