What is Habitat for Humanity International?  
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all background, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

What is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth?  
HfHGP is the local affiliate of the international organization. An independent, locally run, nonprofit organization, HfHGP coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in 6 local communities - Kingston, PLymouth, Plympton, Lakeville, Carver and Middleboro. These include fund raising, building site selection, partner family selection and support and housing construction.

What do the Habitat affiliates do? 
Each affiliate raises the funds required to build the houses through corporate and community donations, church efforts and the simple charity from people in general. In HfHGP's case there is a Board of Directors and many committees working together wtih volunteers and the community to secure the land, funding, and of course find the right family. All affiliates are asked to "tithe" - to give - 10% of their contributions to fund house-building in other nations who are unable to raise funds themselves. In doing so, the affiliate has the opportunity to demonstrate the spirit of partnership, not only in cranberry country, but around the world.

How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, HfHGP and all affiliates build homes with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to the partner families at no profit and financed with affordable mortgages. The homeowner's monthly mortgage payments are then used to build more homes.
Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest 300 hours of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. The mortgage on the Habitat house is made affordable because there is no profit included in the final sale price. The price of the house is what it cost to build it.

Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
Habitat is a worldwide, grassroots movement. Habitat has a presence in more than 90 countries, including all 50 states in the US, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

How are the partner families selected?
Families in need of decent shelter apply to their local affiliate. HfHGP'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. For more information on how to apply, call 508-866-4188.

How can I become a volunteer?
To volunteer with HfHGP please visit http://hfhplymouth.volunteerhub.com. People are much needed to work on a committee to get a lot of work done before ground is broken on any piece of land. More information on these comittees is available elsewhere on our site, www.hfhplymouth.org.