Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization founded in 1976. Working through local affiliates and volunteers, it helps families build or improve places they can call home. Future homeowners partner in the construction or rehabilitation of their own houses and pay affordable mortgages rather than receiving free housing. Since its founding, the organization says it has helped more than 62 million people improve their living conditions.

The organization's work spans several programmes. Its core home construction and rehabilitation activity is accompanied by financial education for prospective homeowners, disaster response and recovery services, and neighbourhood revitalization initiatives. Habitat ReStore, a network of retail outlets selling donated building materials, funds the mission. At policy level, the organization advocates for housing policy changes at local, state and federal levels to address the affordable housing crisis.

Habitat for Humanity operates in all 50 U.S. states and in approximately 70 countries. It describes itself as a Christian-based ministry that welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serves people in need regardless of race or religion. Its model is partnership-based, aimed at empowering low- and moderate-income households and vulnerable communities rather than providing one-off charity, and is sustained largely through volunteer and community engagement.