| Habitat for Humanity Was Started by U.S. President Jimmy Carter |
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| Actually, Habitat for Humanity was started by Millard & Linda Fuller in 1976 in Americus, Georgia. Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter (whose home in Plains, Ga., is just 8 miles from Habitat International) are longtime Habitat supporters & volunteers who brought worldwide attention to Habitat's work. |
| Habitat for Humanity Gives Houses to Poor People |
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| Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with those in need and then sells the houses to homeowner partners. Because of Habitat's no-profit, no-interest loans, and because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments can be kept reasonable to those unable to obtain conventional financing for a home. Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 30-50% of the median income in the area. They are required to invest an average of 400 hours of sweat equity-time spent building their own home or other Habitat houses. |
| Habitat Homeowners Can Sell Their Houses & Make A Large Profit |
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| First buy-back option clauses are put into the mortgage agreements between partner families & the Habitat affiliate. |
| Habitat Houses Lower Neighborhood Property Values |
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| 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 improved many neighborhoods and communities by strengthening community spirit, increasing the tax base, and building better citizens through the cooperative efforts involved in Habitat construction. |
| Poverty Housing Can Never Be Solved |
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| 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. |
| You Have To Be A Christian To Become A Habitat Homeowner |
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| The founders of Habitat for Humanity, Millard & Linda Fuller, are Christians and based their Habitat mission on Christian principles. From the beginning (1976) the Fuller's set out to create an organization in which God's love was extended to everyone and where the poor were not exploited. They believe that decent, affordable housing is a basic human right and the intent is to eliminate poverty housing from the face of the earth. Homeowners are chosen without regard to race, creed or nationality. We also welcome volunteers from all faiths - or no faith - who can actively embrace Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing from the world. |
