Frequently Asked Questions - General
Q. What is Habitat for Humanity?
A. HFH is a Christian housing ministry whose mission is to eliminate substandard housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience. Hartford Area HFH is one of 1,700 Habitat affiliates in the US. There are 500 more in 80 countries overseas.
Q. Do you have to be any particular religion to participate in Habitat for Humanity?
A. Habitat’s founders built the organization based on their Christian beliefs. Habitat welcomes anyone of any faith or culture who believes that picking up a hammer to help a working family build their own house is the right thing to do.
Q. Is this the organization that Jimmy Carter founded?
A. Jimmy Carter is Habitat’s most famous volunteer, but the organization was started by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976.
Q. Is this the only Habitat for Humanity around?
A. Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity is one of 10 Habitat affiliates in Connecticut. There are others in Middletown, New Haven, New London, Bridgeport, Danbury, Windham, and other areas in the state.
To find your local Habitat affiliate visit www.habitat.org.
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Myths & Truths
MYTH: Habitat for Humanity gives houses to poor people.
TRUTH: Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with people in need and then sells the houses to homeowner partners through no-profit loans. Because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments can be kept reasonable to those unable to obtain conventional financing. Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 30 percent to 50 percent of the median income in the area. They are required to invest hundreds of hours in “sweat equity”—that is, time spent building their own home or other Habitat houses.
Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity - a proud Equal Opportunity Employer.