" Habitat at its core is about shelter - providing the most basic need. So to be able to assist in providing this basic need, it's very powerful. One house at a time, we are making a difference."
David Gaffin, Habitat Volunteer

Our Story

Since 1985, Habitat Philadelphia has empowered 150 families to achieve their dreams of homeownership and break the cycle of poverty. Our homes are sold with zero-interest mortgages to local low-income families who contribute 350 hours of “sweat equity” toward Habitat projects. Mortgage principal payments are recycled back to build or renovate additional homes through our Fund for Humanity.

Habitat Philadelphia focuses its efforts on building multiple homes in a community rather than scattered houses in different areas. In this way we can transform entire neighborhoods, one block at a time. 

Our History

Habitat Philadelphia formed in March 2003 through the integration of four city affiliates in Germantown, North, West, and South Philadelphia.  These four separate affiliates operated independently from 1985 until 2003.  As a city-wide affiliate, we make better use of our resources and are able to help more families in need of adequate shelter. Since 2003, we have been building as one unified organization.

We operate throughout the city of Philadelphia, and to-date have built:

  • 18 homes in Germantown
  • 70 homes in North Philadelphia
  • 11 homes in South Philadelphia
  • 41 homes in West Philadelphia

As a result, 521 Philadelphians who would otherwise be homeless or living in poverty housing are now proud, self-sufficient homeowners.

We do not build outside of the city of Philadelphia, but there are six other Habitat affiliates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that serve local areas outside of the City. To find your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, click here.

  

The Need in Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, one in four families is forced to decide between paying for rent or food, medical bills or transportation to work.  This high cost burden forces families to make tough decisions daily that have a lasting negative impact on their lives, their children, and their communities.

  

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development if you spend over 30% of your annual income on housing, you may have trouble paying for necessities such as food, electricity, and healthcare.

 
If you work full time at a job that pays minimum wage, you earn $12,000 a year after taxes. At 30% of your income, you could afford to spend $300 per month on rent.
 
The average monthly rent in Philadelphia is $746.
 
 
The lack of decent, affordable housing forces families to pay excessive amounts of money to rent inadequate, overcrowded housing.
 

Our Impact

Habitat Philadelphia focuses on home ownership as its solution to affordable housing. By offering no-interest mortgages and accepting sweat equity as a down payment we are able to offer affordable homeownership opportunities to families who would otherwise not qualify for a mortgage.

For a family previously spending around 30% of their income on housing, an affordable mortgage is a crucial change that allows them to spend money on other important things such as healthcare, education, electricity, food and other basic human needs.

  

Current Projects

Last year, we completed 10 homes and empowered 10 families to achieve their dreams of homeownership. We are committed to completing 10 more homes in 2010, with your help.

We are on a roll towards our goal - in May we dedicated our 4th and 5th  homes of the year on Priscilla and Penn Streets, and welcomed the McFaddens and the Scotts home. We are currently rehabbing two more properties in Germantown, and one in South Philadelphia.

The Jackson Family