Habitat for Humanity Vision, Mission and Values
Vision:A world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.
Mission:
To mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Our Values:
Housing for All - We believe that access to safe, decent and affordable housing is a basic human right that should be available to all.
Human Dignity - We believe in the worth and dignity of every human being. We respect the people we serve and those that help us in this effort and recognize them as our greatest resource.
Partnership - We believe we can best achieve our mission through meaningful and mutually-beneficial partnerships with others.
Faith in Action - We believe that faith is lived through action. Building on our Christian foundation, we serve and work with people of all faiths and beliefs in a spirit of justice and compassion.
Diversity and Inclusiveness - We believe there is a role for everyone committed to our vision, mission and values and we seek to enrich our organization through diversity.
Habitat's Mission
- a grassroots ecumenical nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty and substandard housing worldwide.
- believes that every person deserves, at least, a simple and decent place in which to live and grow into all that God intends for them to be
- builds or renovates houses in partnership with families who qualify for home ownership based on three criteria: need, a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage
- works with people of all faiths and people of no faith
- sells its houses at market value, with no interest charged
- has built and/or renovated over 500,000 houses worldwide since 1976
History
Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all faiths and walks of life to work together in partnership, building houses with families in need.
In 1985, the movement spread to Canada with the first Canadian build in Winkler, Manitoba. Two years later, Winnipeg became home to the first Canadian affiliate. Habitat for Humanity in Canada has since grown to 73 affiliates in 10 provinces and two territories and has successfully provided almost 2,000 families with safe, decent and affordable housing.
How We Do it
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
Family Selection
Whether in North America or overseas, families in need apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate's family selection committee considers applicants' level of need, their willingness to become partners in the Habitat program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families.
If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, please check our Apply for a Home page where you will find information on the availability, size, costs, and sweat equity requirements for Habitat houses in our area, as well as information on the application process.
Habitat and its Affiliates
Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including 73 affiliates in all Canadian provinces and territories. Use the Habitat for Humanity Canada affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in other areas.
Habitat is a grass-roots movement. Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form a Habitat affiliate in their community. Fundraising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHC headquarters, located in Toronto, ON., provides information, training, support and other services to Habitat affiliates nationally.
Donations
Donations are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by us that are designated to a specific building project are forwarded to that project. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed. Our most recent financial statement is available upon request.
Management
Our board of directors determines policy and monitors operations in conjunction with a board of advisors. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing in our community. We operate with an administrative staff, assisted by a core group of clerical and support employees and supplemented by long-term and short-term volunteers.
Government Support
Habitat partners with government for the construction of new houses or for the renovation or repair of existing houses. Habitat is considered by many governing bodies as the leading service delivery provider to meet affordable housing mandates through the home ownership model. We accept government grants and gifts-in-kind (infrastructure, land, etc) so long as the donation has no strings attached that would violate Habitat's principles.