Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, Christian organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action worldwide.

Habitat has built and renovated more than 500,000 homes around the world, providing more than 2.5 million people with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife, Linda.

How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner families. Habitat houses are then sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a Revolving Fund that is used to build or renovate more Habitat houses.

Habitat is not a giveaway program
In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor—sweat equity—into building their Habitat home and the homes of others.

Where Habitat for Humanity works
Habitat for Humanity works in more than 90 countries and more than 3,000 communities worldwide. Local affiliates or community groups are supported by national, regional and area offices which provide training, information resources and oversight.

Check out the where we build section for more information.

Habitat for Humanity Germany

Habitat for Humanity Germany began operations in 1998. The national office is based in Cologne, with eight staff members. Its work is primarily focused on raising funds for the international work of Habitat for Humanity. In Germany, Habitat for Humanity works by building corporate relations with leading businesses, sending volunteers on international building trips through the Global Village program and by lobbying to find supporters, sponsors and volunteers for worldwide programs. It is also actively raising funds for emergency relief work. Recently, Habitat Germany has been establishing relationships with institutions and foundations. It is a member of the U.N.-affiliated Global Compact Network in Germany that brings together industry and nonprofits.

Project support
Habitat for Humanity Germany raised funds to support building projects in many countries around the world. It also sponsored rebuilding efforts in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 and after the earthquake in Japan in 2011. Each year supported projects and countries vary.

Global Village: Habitat for Humanity Germany partners with corporate volunteer teams  and international schools around the world and specifically in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Every year, teams of students and teachers travel for one or two weeks to build or renovate homes alongside low-income families in need of decent shelter. Work with Habitat allows schools to raise their commitment to social responsibility and to strengthen community spirit through service learning. Habitat for Humanity Germany partnered with about 15 schools in Germany and Switzerland in the last year.

More information: www.hfhd.de