Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.
Habitat has built nearly 200,000 houses around the world, providing close to 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife Linda. Its headquarters are located in Americus, GA, the first community to eliminate poverty housing through partnership with Habitat.
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. This partnership with the homeowners, commonly called "sweat equity," requires them to work hundreds of hours on their own and others' houses. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. Because of the sweat equity and monthly mortgage payments, Habitat for Humanity is not considered a giveaway program. It is more like a helping hand up.