Habitat for Humanity Myth and Facts

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 25 percent to 50 percent of the median income in the area. They are required to invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” — that is, time sent building their own home, other Habitat houses, or working at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

MYTH: Habitat builds only for minorities.

TRUTH: Habitat builds 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 25-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: Like most people with mortgages to pay, Habitat homeowners must have a source of income. In the United States, the large majority of Habitat homeowners work at low-wage jobs in the service or health industry. For example, the nurse who cares for your family in a hospital could be a Habitat homeowner. Sometimes homeowners work more than one job to pay the mortgage. A few families are on public assistance or disability.

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

TRUTH: Habitat for Humanity 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.

MYTH: Habitat houses allow people to move from property to fancy new houses.

TRUTH: Any newly built house is going to be a dramatic change for a family that has been living in a shack, hut or run- down apartment. But Habitat houses are not extravagant by any standard. Habitat’s philosophy is to build simple, decent  houses.

MYTH: Habitat houses lower neighborhood property values.

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

A recent study found that Habitat homeowners were considered to be good neighbors by other members of their community.

MYTH: Habitat for Humanity is a Southern poverty program.

TRUTH: What has become the international ministry called Habitat for Humanity International started with a handful of people building with families in southwest Georgia and the African Nation of Zaire. Today, Habitat for Humanity has headquarters in Americus and Atlanta, Ga, along with an office in Washington, D.C., and area offices in Pretoria, South Africa; San Jose, Costa Rica; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Bangkok, Thailand. These area offices serve local affiliates and national offices, who are at work in nearly 80 countries and in every state in the United States.

MYTH: Habitat for Humanity is an arm of the government.

TRUTH: Habitat for Humanity International in an independent, non-profit 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.

MYTH: Habitat for Humanity was started by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

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 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 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.

MYTH: Poverty Housing is such a large problem that it can never be solved.

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.