What is Habitat for Humanity International?

• Habitat is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry.
• We believe that every person should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.
• We build, renovate and repair houses all over the world using volunteer labor and donations.
• We welcome all people to work with us in partnership.
• We advocate to increase access to decent, affordable housing around the world.

Does Habitat give houses away?

• No, Habitat for Humanity is not a giveaway program.
• Habitat’s partner families buy the houses that Habitat builds and renovates.
  • Habitat makes no profit on the sale.
  • Habitat homeowners purchase their houses through affordable monthly mortgage payments.
  • Habitat’s homeowners also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners.

Does Habitat only focus on building new houses?

• No, Habitat works in a number of different ways to create decent, affordable housing.
• In addition to new construction, Habitat also renovates existing buildings in many communities, particularly in urban areas.
• Habitat’s A Brush with Kindness and Neighborhood Revitalization help people repair and improve their own homes and neighborhoods.
• Our Disaster Response program also works with local communities to address a variety of housing needs after natural disasters.
• Habitat’s partnerships and advocacy work help raise the awareness and support needed to address housing needs around the world.

How are Habitat’s homeowner families chosen?

• Families in need of decent, affordable shelter apply.
• Our family selection committee chooses Habitat homeowners, based on three criteria:
  • The family’s level of need.
  • Their willingness to become partners in the program.
  • Their ability to repay the loan through an affordable payment plan.
• We follow a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.
• Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowner families.
• Visit our page on becoming a Habitat homeowner to learn more.

What are Habitat affiliates?

• Affiliates are community-level Habitat for Humanity organizations that act in partnership with and on behalf of Habitat for Humanity International.
• Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area.
• Our organization is a Habitat affiliate.

How are donations distributed and used?

• We rely on gifts from individuals, corporations and other groups to fund our house-building mission. All donations of any amount are deeply appreciated and help us build more decent, affordable houses with more families.

Who controls and manages the Sedalia Habitat for Humanity?

• A board of directors who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing in our community.

How does Habitat work with the government?

• We ask legislators and housing regulators to increase support for affordable homeownership and eliminate poverty housing.
• We monitor public policies related to housing, community and international development.
• We advocate for policies that will increase access to decent, affordable housing for people around the world.
• We accept government funds as long as they have no conditions that would violate our principles or limit our ability to proclaim our Christian identity.

How can I become a volunteer?

• Contact your us for volunteer opportunities.
• Explore our Get Involved section, featuring a number of other ways to volunteer.