Habitat for Humanity

Hello! We are Habitat for Humanity. We are a special kind of group called a nonprofit organization. That means our main job isn't to make money for ourselves, but to help people. Our most important goal is to work with families to build and own their very own homes. We believe that every single person in the world deserves a safe, affordable, and decent place to live. To make this happen, we bring people together. Volunteers, who are helpers from the community, join with families to build houses from the ground up. It’s a wonderful way to see a community grow stronger, one house at a time.

Our story began in a small town called Americus, in Georgia, back in the year 1976. Our founders, a kind couple named Millard and Linda Fuller, had a very powerful idea. They called it “partnership housing.” This idea is at the heart of everything we do. It means that we don’t simply give houses away. Instead, we partner with families who need a home. These future homeowners work right alongside our volunteers, learning new skills and helping to build their own house. After the house is finished, the family buys it from us. They don't have to pay for it all at once. They make small, affordable monthly payments that are easier for them to manage.

So, how does a family help build their own home? We have a special name for their hard work: “sweat equity.” This means that instead of paying a lot of money upfront, families pay with their own time and effort. Each family must contribute hundreds of hours of their own labor. You might see them hammering nails, painting walls, or helping to put up the frame of their new home. They aren't just building their own house, either. Sometimes, they help build a neighbor’s Habitat house, too! This creates a strong sense of community. Working side-by-side with them are many volunteers. These volunteers are neighbors, students, and other caring people who want to help make a difference. Together, the family and the volunteers turn a pile of wood and supplies into a real home.

Today, our work has grown far beyond that small town in Georgia. We now help build and repair homes all across the United States and in many other countries around the world. While we still build brand new homes, we also help families by repairing their existing houses to make them safer and better places to live. We also found another way to help. We started special shops called Habitat ReStores. People can donate furniture, appliances, and building materials they don't need anymore to these stores. We then sell these items, and all the money we raise goes toward building more homes. Our mission continues every day, as we keep working toward a world where everyone has a good, safe place to call home.