Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for a video about the issue of poverty housing and the families it affects—and see what Habitat for Humanity is doing to address the need.

How are Habitat families chosen? Families who are current Saline County residents may apply. The first step in the application process is attending one of our application meetings. Check here to see when our next meeting is scheduled, and to download an application. Once families turn in an application, our family selection committee will evaluate them based on need, willingness to partner, and ability to pay.

Are the houses free? The houses are not free, but are sold to our families at a low-cost, no interest, 20 year mortgage.

How do I get involved? Anyone is welcome to come volunteer at one of our workdays. We currently have regular workdays on every Tuesday, and the third Saturday of each month. We have other workdays, or you can join us at our Restore. If you have talents other than building, we always need food for our volunteers, or help decorating and planning our special events. Contact us and let us know how you want to help, and we can definitely find a place for you!

Do you take donations of materials? Habitat is committed to building low cost, decent, affordable housing. Because of that, and because we try to build all of our houses similar in fairness to our homeowners, we are unable to accept any specialized materials for the building of our homes. However, the Restore is able to accept those donations, and Habitat can then use the money to go toward the building of even more homes.

Where do you get your funding? Our funding comes from grants, local fundraisers, gifts, and donations, and our revolving fund for humanity, which is funded by our homeowner’s mortgages.

Do the families get to choose where the houses are built? Currently, all of our homes are being built in Partnership Village in Benton. However, homeowners do get to customize their homes by making decisions regarding flooring, siding colors, and other options.

How many houses have you built so far? As of April 2011, Habitat for Humanity of Saline County has completed 44 homes, and we are in the process of building 2 more.

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Myths and Truths about Habitat for Humanity

MYTH: Habitat for Humanity gives houses to poor people.

TRUTH: Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with people in need and then sells the houses to homeowner partners through no-profit loans. Because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments are reasonable for families unable to obtain conventional financing. Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 30 percent to 50 percent of the median income in the area. They are required to invest hundreds of hours in “sweat equity”—that is, time spent building their own home or other Habitat houses.

MYTH: Habitat builds houses only for minorities.

TRUTH: Habitat doesn’t build houses for anyone. We build houses with people in need, without regard to race. Three criteria drive the family-selection process: need; ability to repay the no-profit mortgage during a 15- to 30-year period; and willingness to partner with Habitat. The U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale of housing on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status or national origin. The covenant that all local Habitat affiliates sign with Habitat for Humanity International also specifies that Habitat homeowner families are selected “according to criteria that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed or ethnic background.”

MYTH: Habitat homeowners are on welfare.

TRUTH: While some Habitat homeowners do receive public assistance, most work at low-wage jobs. Habitat works in good faith with people who often are at risk in society, knowing that owning a home is not the answer to every problem, but that it can be an important step—often the first step— toward helping people break out of the cycle of poverty.

MYTH: You have to be a Christian to become a Habitat homeowner.

TRUTH: Habitat for Humanity was founded as and is a Christian ministry. However, homeowners are chosen without regard to race, creed or nationality—following the requirements of the law as well as Habitat’s belief that God’s love extends to all. Habitat also welcomes volunteers from all faiths—or no faith—who actively embrace the goal of eliminating poverty housing from the world.

TRUTH: Any newly built house is going to be a dramatic change for a family that has been living in a shack, hut or rundown apartment. But Habitat houses are not extravagant by any standard. Habitat’s philosophy is to build simple, decent houses. Under house design criteria approved by Habitat for Humanity International’s board of directors, living space in a three-bedroom house, for example, is not to exceed 1,050 square feet.

TRUTH: Many studies of low-cost housing show that affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values. Habitat’s approach to affordable housing improves neighborhoods and communities by strengthening community spirit and increasing the tax base while building better citizens through the cooperative efforts involved in Habitat construction.

A recent study of the neighbors of Habitat homeowners found that homeowners are thought to be good neighbors.

TRUTH: Habitat for Humanity International started in the Southern United States and is based in Americus, and Atlanta, Ga. However, Habitat has area headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica; Pretoria, South Africa; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Bangkok, Thailand. Habitat is a global partnership, drawing families in need together with volunteers and resources to build simple, decent houses all over the world. Habitat works in more than 90 countries.

TRUTH: Habitat for Humanity International is an independent, nonprofit Christian housing ministry. It is not an arm of the government, nor an arm of any particular church denomination. Habitat does accept government funds so long as those funds do not affect Habitat’s ability to proclaim its Christian witness.

TRUTH: Habitat for Humanity International was started in Americus, Ga., in 1976 by the late Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, are longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national and international attention to the organization’s house-building work. They lead the annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project to help build houses and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing. Since the first work project in 1984, more than 2,000 houses have been built in conjunction with Carter Work Project events.

MYTH: Habitat for Humanity operates through chapters in states and countries throughout the world.

TRUTH: Habitat does not operate through centrally controlled chapters but through locally run affiliates. Affiliates are grassroots organizations of local people coming together to address local housing needs. Each affiliate is an independent nonprofit organization that operates within specific service areas under a covenant relationship with Habitat for Humanity International.

MYTH: Habitat for Humanity builds only in cities—or builds only in rural areas.

TRUTH: Habitat—through local affiliates—is at work in cities, suburbs and rural areas in highly developed countries and in developing countries. Because poverty housing is so widespread, Habitat’s work goes on 365 days a year in locations throughout the United States and around the world.

TRUTH: Poverty housing is a huge issue. But Habitat believes that by continuing to build houses with people 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.

www.habitat.org (229) 924-6935 (800) HABITAT fax (229) 928-8811 publicinfo@habitat.org

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.