How It Works

What is Habitat for Humanity?

Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness in almost 3000 communities 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. Habitat has built some 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1,000,000 people with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

How does it work?

Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds or 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 that is used to build more houses.

What does a Habitat house cost?

An average Habitat house for a family of four in the United States is 1100 square feet, has 3 bedrooms, and costs $55,000 to build. Prices will differ slightly depending on location. Habitat houses are affordable for low-income families because there is no profit included in the sale price and no interest charged on the mortgage. The average length of a Habitat mortgage is 20 years.

What is "Sweat Equity"?

When selected, you become a ‘partner family’ in the Habitat movement. As a partner family WVHFH requires at least 300 hours of volunteer work to be completed as your house is constructed and before occupancy. This is called ‘sweat equity’ and may be completed by assisting in the construction of your home and the homes of others and may include building walls, painting, installing windows, clearing the lot, coordinating lunches for volunteers, helping with Habitat mailings or working on other Habitat projects. Families who purchase Habitat homes invest at least 300 hours of ‘sweat equity’ volunteer labor.

How are the partner families selected?

Our 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. We follow a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families.

How are donations distributed and used?

Donations, whether to a local Habitat affiliate or to HFHI headquarters, are used as designated by the donor. Gifts given to WVHFH can be designated to a specific building project. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed.

Who controls and manages Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity?

A local, volunteer, ecumenical Board of Directors manages operations in conjunction with short- and long-term volunteer builders. The WVHFH employs a part time executive director and a full time administrator to help manage the day to day operations and research available funds or grant monies.

How many people are employed by Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity?

Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity employs four people; Karen Evans Kaufer, Executive Director; Nancy Alberigi, Administrator; Mark Pryor, Building Site Supervisor; and Paul Precht, ReStore Manager.