About Us » Frequently Asked Questions
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About Us » Frequently Asked Questions |
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia?  Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia is one of 1800 independent Habitat for Humanity affiliates worldwide dedicated to providing homeownership opportunities to families in need. Habitat Philadelphia was formed in March of 2003 through the merger of the four city affiliates in order to better serve families in need of decent, affordable housing. How many houses have you built? Habitat has built 130 houses in Philadelphia, 80 in North Philadelphia. Who does Habitat Philadelphia help? Most of our family partners are members of the working poor and find it difficult or impossible to obtain a conventional mortgage. They live in dangerous or overcrowded conditions while often paying more than 50 percent of their income in rent. Some families live in public housing units in which the rent rises with income, discouraging residents from pursuing better-paying jobs. Is Habitat for Humanity a Christian organization? Habitat was founded on Christian principles of fellowship, charity and a firm belief that all people deserve a simple, decent place to live. We welcome and work with people of all religious affiliations and those with none. Exercising the theology of the hammer, Habitat's unique partnership includes people of diverse faiths and backgrounds at all levels. Working with Habitat is a great way to put your faith into action. How does someone apply for the program? A prospective homeowner begins by attending a homeownership information session. After attending an information session, the prospective homeowner can apply by filling out an application. If the prospective homeowner meets the income guidelines for their household size, then Habitat will pull a credit report. After it is confirmed that an applicant can afford the monthly mortgage payments, we schedule a home visit to determine whether he or she meets a certain level of need. Applicants are then selected by our Family Services Committee based on need and willingness to partner in what can be a challenging program. How does the program work? In order to become homeowners, family partners must provide 350 hours building their home and those of others. This builds pride, community and a sense of accomplishment while also reducing construction costs. The sweat equity requirement also includes workshops on budgeting and home maintenance to prepare family partners for the responsibilities of home ownership. When a family partner's house and sweat equity commitment are complete, the partner takes on an affordable interest-free mortgage. Who ever heard of an interest-free mortgage? Habitat does not believe in burdening struggling families with interest and instead services mortgages at no interest. Obviously, no for-profit organization could do such a thing. In this way, homeowners can afford to repay the full cost of construction. Mortgage payments continue to support future construction. Who builds the houses? Volunteer labor is at the core of what Habitat does and is the reason we can build affordable houses. Many house sponsors provide the bulk of work done on their houses, making a double commitment to our family partners. Additional volunteers include groups from churches, schools, corporations and other organizations from across the region and beyond. Individual volunteers are also welcome. Our family partners provide 350 hours working alongside volunteers. Habitat staff and AmeriCorps volunteers provide assistance and supervision to the volunteers and complete some more complicated tasks themselves. Some tasks such as electrical work and masonry require paid subcontractors. How do you obtain properties? We purchase property through several city agencies, including the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the Redevelopment Authority, and rely on outright donations of property from owners. The acquisition of properties has often taken as many as five years. SEE OUR ARTICLE ON PROPERTY ACQUISITION. The merger of the four previously independent Habitat affiliates enabled us to hire two full time staff people who focus their efforts on property acquisition and planning. Who funds Habitat? The largest portion of our funding comes from individuals who believe that access to affordable homeownership opportunities should be a matter of conscience. House sponsorships and other funds come from churches, corporations and foundations. Do you get money from the government? Habitat Philadelphia does not directly accept government money for house construction. Government agencies do provide us with properties, infrastructure and site preparation. Some government funds are made available through third parties so that we can more effectively rebuild communities while maintaining the principles of our volunteer-driven housing ministry. Where does Habitat Philadelphia build? With the merger of the four previously independent city Habitat affiliates complete, we continue to build in Germantown, North, West and South Philadelphia. We hope to serve other neighborhoods as opportunities for partnership and development emerge. How much does a house cost to build? A house in Philadelphia costs us an average of $120,000 to build. Sometimes rehabilitation of older homes is less expensive than the in-fill construction of new homes. New construction carries more consistent, predictable costs and will benefit from economies of scale associated with the merger of previously independent affiliates that formed Habitat Philadelphia. Can homeowners sell their homes? Homeowners can sell their homes at any time. However, if they sell within the first ten years, Habitat will share a portion of the profit the family earns on the sale. Generally, homeowners continue to live in their homes indefinitely and pass them on to family. How can I support Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia? There are many ways to become involved. Right now, our most major need is funding. Your tax deductible gift will be appreciated as we work to complete several homes under construction. The Golden Hammer Club is a way to provide Habitat Philadelphia with a reliable source of funding by giving automatically through your credit card or checking account. For more information, click Ways to Give or simply donate now. |
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