Frequently Asked Questions
Families in need of simple, decent shelter apply to the local Habitat affiliate. Interested families are encouraged to come to a series of educational meetings at their local Habitat. Families are then selected as beneficiaries by the local committee on the basis of level of need, ability to repay the no-interest loan and willingness to become partners in the program. Every family must be willing to contribute “sweat equity,” time and effort in the construction of their home and the homes of other recipients in the program. Habitat does not discriminate in the family selection process on the basis of race, religion or tribe.
Some local Habitat for Humanity affiliates are able to help with repair, and some do not. The decision is made locally based on the affiliate’s volunteer pool and other factors. The first step is to reach out to your local affiliate and ask.
Even though there are 83 Habitat affiliates across Texas, not every part of Texas is served. In that case, visit www.211texas.org for other resources that may be available in your area.
Habitat for Humanity Texas is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity Texas is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.
Habitat Texas supports the local affiliates in their efforts by providing resources, technical assistance and training. By supporting Habitat Texas, you support the efforts of thousands of volunteers, families, and supporters across the state.
Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion.
As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Habitat homes are not giveaways. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds, repairs and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. These families not only work on their own homes, but they work on other homes as well – giving as they have received.
Our partner families make down payments, pay taxes and have monthly mortgages, but the mortgages are financed by Habitat for no-interest. These mortgage payments allow us to build still more Habitat homes.
•Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates. Find your nearest Habitat for Humanity!
•The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan.
•Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.
•Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.
No, the homes aren’t free, but they are affordable. Habitat believes in a hand up, not a hand out. Homes are affordable because of no-profit loans and the “sweat equity” provided by partner families and volunteers.
•Habitat for Humanity affiliates are independently run nonprofit organizations at the local level providing safe, decent affordable housing for hardworking low income families. Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of a Habitat for Humanity home, including fundraising, building, partner family selection and mortgage servicing.
•Habitat for Humanity Texas, a State Support Organization, works to support the local affiliates through resource development, advocacy, disaster response, training and technical assistance. Habitat Texas uses scale to provide the services and resources that may otherwise be unavailable to affiliates.
•Habitat for Humanity International is the parent organization overseeing the operations of Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the world, headquartered in Georgia. Founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity today operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate andrepair more than 600,000 decent, affordable houses sheltering more than 3 million people worldwide.
•Find your local Habitat for Humanity and their volunteer opportunities.
•Explore our Get Involved section.
ReStores are stores run by affiliates with their primary mission to provide additional funding to support house building goals in the ReStore’s community. ReStores sell everything from building supplies to household goods, at a reduced cost, allowing Habitat another avenue to serve the community.
ReStores accept donations of all sorts of new and used goods, including new and used building supplies, electronics, antiques, and more. Call your local ReStore to learn about what it accepts, store hours, pick-up and more.