Habitat for Humanity:
Profile Report
June 2006
Justin Johnson
publicinfo@habitat.org.
Page 1
Table of Contents
Executive Summery
The Need for Habitat For Humanity
Mission Statement
History
Home Owners Obligations
Facts
We Were There
Criticism /Myths
Conclusion
Work Cited
Page 2
Page 3
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 8
Page 9
Executive Summary
Habitat for Humanity International started in 1976 and was inspired from a Christian
community. Its goal is to provide affordable housing to the disadvantaged by helping those who
Page 2
help themselves. Needy families work along side of volunteers to build homes. By utilizing
donations, Habitat for Humanity can provide families with interest free loans. The no-interest
loans along with free labor reduce monthly mortgage payments to an affordable amount.
Over time the non-profit corporation grew exponentially as more affiliations joined each
year, and the affiliations grew into large entities. Today the organization is valued at seventyone millions dollars and accomplished building over 200,000 housing units with two thousand
affiliates. The organization will continue to thrive and help the needy thanks to the generosity of
donors and volunteers.
The Need for Habitat For Humanity
According to statistics taken in 1996 by the National Resource and Training Center on
Homelessness and Mental Illness, there are approximately 842,000 people homeless every week
in the United States and 3.5 million people are homeless over the course of a year. The statistics
indicate high numbers of homeless people occur from low-income jobs that require more then
Page 3
half of the income to be used to pay for housing, and about forty four percent of homeless adults
are employed and make about $367 a month opposed to the median income of $2,840 (Who is
Homeless). Many are not able to afford a decent place to live, and low amounts of governmentsupported section eight housing causes individuals to wait as long as 28 months to be able to
receive government living assistance (How Many People are Homeless). Those who are not
homeless are forced to live in substandard and undersized housing due to their low income or
high medical expenses.
Worldwide there are approximately two billion people living in poverty and one billion
living in substandard housing. These people earn about two U.S. dollars a day. (Why Habitat
for Humanity Is Needed)
Mission Statement
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian based organization with a target of providing homes
for struggling people. The organization does not give houses away, but they help those who help
themselves by giving hard working people an
opportunity to own a decent place to live. Their
goal is to provide adequate living conditions for
families and help them own a house at an
affordable price.
This requires the homeowners to
contribute numerous hours into building their
own home and to keep a job to make payments
on the home. Due to the large number of
sponsors and volunteer labor, houses can be built
cheaply and sufficiently to meet families’ needs.
Also interest free loans are created through
donations. The low monthly payments are received by Habitat for Humanity and used to build
homes for other needy families. The organization has an open door policy giving equal
opportunity to volunteer and home recipients (The
History of Habitat).
History
The inspiration behind Habitat for Humanity
came from a Christian community, Koinonia. Millard
Fuller and Linda Fuller visited the town in 1965 and
were fascinated by the strong Christian beliefs of its
residence. On a four hundred acre farm lot the first
partnership house was built in 1969 for the Johnson
family.
The program continued until two full
communities were build, Koinonia Village and Forest
Park. In 1973 the Fullers wanted to utilize the
Page 4
partnership-housing program in Africa, where they spent the next three years building houses for
the underprivileged (The Beginnings of Habitat).
After returning to Koinonia, the Fullers started the Habitat for Humanities International
organization in 1976 with the first headquarters in Georgia. In 1978 the first affiliate joined
Habitat for Humanity in Texas, and shortly after in 1979 the first Habitat for Humanity house
was built in the Americas (Before Habitat for Humanity).
In 1984 Jimmy Carter, a former President, and his wife Rosalynn Carter joined Habitat
for Humanity to create the Jimmy Carter Work Project. The first project was held in New York
and accomplished building ninety-two houses in one week (JCWP Comes to an End). Today
Habitat for Humanity is still rapidly expanding having over two thousand affiliates spread
through ninety-two countries building homes for the needy. (Habitat for Humanity Fact Sheet)
Home Owners Obligations
Habitat for Humanity does not give out houses, but they help motivated and financially
challenged people afford homes. Houses are built at a fraction of the cost due to volunteer labor.
Also, no interest loans on houses reduce monthly payments and are made possible through
donations.
Mike Baird notes that participants have to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home by
going through a rigorous process. First, the process checks the home recipient to check if the
current living conditions are substandard or unsafe. After determining there is a need for the
home, it investigates to find if the family has the ability to pay for the home. Their income is
usually 50 to 70 percent less then the median income of the area. Next, the family has to attend
credit counseling and home maintenance courses to make sure they are capable of keeping a
home. Recipients have to contribute to building their own home, and they are required to work a
minimum of three hundred hours for single parent families and four to five hundred hours for
Page 5
two parent families. Hours are accumulated through numerous tasks ranging from making food
for the workers, building the house, and hours are even awarded to families when the children
receive A’s on their report card. After all the requirements have been met the family is allowed
to occupy their home and receive the title to the house. (Baird)
Facts
Habitat for Humanity International has existed since 1976, and is
committed to providing homes for the needy. It has built 200,000 homes
since it first started and continues to build homes rapidly averaging a
new house every forty-five minutes. The company’s net assets estimate
around seventy-one millions dollars with revenues of one hundred fiftyseven million dollars. The company spends seventy-five percent of all
revenues on the houses while the other twenty-five percent is overhead
costs such as campaigning for donations and administrative costs.
(Habitat for Humanity International)
Page 6
Revenue
Primary Revenue
$157,454,791
Other Revenue
$8,778,778
Total Revenue:
$166,233,569
Expenses
Program Expenses
$121,037,291
Administrative Expenses
$6,243,563
Fundraising Expenses
$33,292,354
Total Functional Expenses:
$160,573,208
Payments to Affiliates
$0
Excess (or Deficit) for the Year
$5,660,361
$71,007,120
Net Assets:
Table is from (Habitat for Humanity International)
We Were There
Natural disasters leave people homeless and reduce homes to substandard living
conditions. During these times of need Habitat for Humanity works intensely to restore
communities. Generous donations allow the organization to rebuild homes fast and make a large
impact on restoring and rebuilding homes to suitable conditions in a timely manner.
Katrina
Hurricane Katrina damaged approximately 500,000 homes leaving many
homeless (Canadian to Lead Habitat). The total damages to homes estimate around
87.6 billion dollars, and repairs were made using the 53.6 billion dollars donated
Page 7
to Habitat for Humanity combined with the government’s home repairs of 32.7
billion dollars (Hurricane Aftermath). Habitat for Humanity sent relief to the
victims through a program called “House-in-a-Box” and "Operation Home
Delivery" (Canadian to Lead Habitat). Branches of Habitat for Humanity, including
Canada and Orange County, made pre-built frames and other sections of homes to
send over for fast assembly. Along with the containerized frames many
volunteers were shipped over to help rebuild after the natural disaster.
Tsunami Recovery
A tsunami originating in the India Ocean hit Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India,
Thailand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. An estimated fifty-four million dollars were
donated to provide support for 35,000 families affected by the tsunami.
Construction continues still today with 2,007 volunteers working on building
2,000 more housing units (100 Days After Tsunami).
Hurricane Andrew
In 1992 Hurricane Andrew collided with the coast in the Gulf of Mexico
with winds of 165 miles per hour. After the level five hurricane pasted, all 27
Habitat for Humanities houses survived due to the high building standards.
Afterwards, an additional 200 homes were built for hurricane victims (Miami
Habitat History).
Criticism /Myths
There are many criticisms directed toward Habitat for Humanity, but the organization is
aware of them, and many of them are false.
Myth: Homeowners that receive homes from Habitat for Humanity can profit because they pay
a fraction of the cost for the home.
Fact: The homeowners are so grateful for receiving a home and are not in any position
to be able to afford a new home, that the homes built are never put on the market to sell.
In twenty years there has not been a Habitat for Humanity beneficiary who has sold his or
her home. (Habitat for Humanity Fact Sheet)
Myth: Christians have an advantage in receiving homes from the organization.
Page 8
Fact: Recipients are chosen according to need and the association is an equal
opportunity group.
Myth: Habitat for Humanity benefits the middle class and filters out lower class families
through its application process.
Fact: Habitat for Humanity is an organization that helps those who help themselves. It
targets families that make about 50 to 70 percent less then the median income in the area.
In order for the organization to exist it has to be able to receive mortgage payments, from
families willing to work, so the funds can be used to build homes for other needy
families.
Myth: House prices do not match the costs of construction and the organization profits.
Fact: Habitat homes are built and sold for no-profit with no-interest loans.
Conclusion
Habitat for Humanity persevered from its first affiliate in Ohio to over two thousand
affiliates through hard work and dedication from its volunteers and sponsors. Natural disaster
victims and poverty-stricken families have suitable homes due to the efforts of Millard Fuller and
Linda Fuller, who founded the organization. Goals were met and obstacles were overcome
through the determination its workers.
To help make a difference join the Habitat for Humanity community and support the
program by donating funds or time.
Work Cited
“100 days after tsunami, Habitat for Humanity building houses, capacity.” Habitat for Humantiy
2005. 01 April. <http://www.habitat.org/newsroom/2005archive/insitedoc008852.aspx>
Baird, Mike. “One Year of Hard Work Later, Family's House is Almost Ready.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
2005. 29 Dec.
<http://proxy.nss.udel.edu:2058/universe/document?_m=fae7138a6c92ce1424a9a2ef5d7d045d&_docnum=
22&wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkVA&_md5=b05ab460fcb8da2668dbff277ff0c6da>
“Before Habitat for Humanity.” Habitat for Humanity. 2006. 12 June
<http://www.habitat.org/history/65-76.html>
“Canadian to Lead Habitat for Humanity's Reconstruction Efforts in US Gulf Coast.” Canada NewsWire.
2005. 29 Sept.
<http://proxy.nss.udel.edu:2058/universe/document?_m=1ba391cc224788342c5f11eef09db2df&_docnum=
5&wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkVA&_md5=8b6c693747aa0ba698a747714a20a806>
“Habitat for Humanity Fact Sheet.” Habitat for Humanity. 2006. 12 June
<http://www.habitat.org/how/factsheet.aspx>
“Habitat for Humanity International.” Charity Navigator. 2006. 12 June
<http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3789.htm>
Page 9
“How Many People are Homeless? Why?” The National Resource and Training Center on
Homelessness and Mental Illness 2006. 12 June
< http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/facts/facts_question_1.asp>
“Hurricane Aftermath.” The Houston Chronicle. 2005, 25 Nov.
<http://proxy.nss.udel.edu:2058/universe/document?_m=1ba391cc224788342c5f11eef09db2df&_docnum=
11&wchp=dGLbVlz-SkVA&_md5=1be1eee4c415df2f6d53139a977b8cf3>
“JCWP Comes to an End.” Habitat for Humanity. 2006. 12 June
< http://www.habitat.org/jcwp/2003/>
“Miami Habitat History.”. Habitat for Humanity Miami. 2006. 12 June
<http://www.miamihabitat.org/about_us/history.html>
The Beginnings of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity. 2006. 12 June
Video on the Internet. <http://www.habitat.org/videogallery/ KoinoniaTour/KoinoniaTour300.wmv>
“The History of Habitat.” Habitat for Humanity. 2006. 12 June
< http://www.habitat.org/how/historytext.aspx>
“Who is Homeless?” The National Resource and Training Center on
Homelessness and Mental Illness 2006. 12 June
< http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/facts/facts_question_2.asp>
“Why Habitat for Humanity Is Needed.” Habitat for Humanity. 2006. 12 June
<http://www.habitat.org/how/why.aspx>