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"All God's people deserve a simple, decent place
to live."
In 1976, Millard Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity with those
words. Pittsburgh Habitat is one of over 2,300 affiliates of Habitat
for Humanity International, a non-profit Christian housing ministry
in over 90 countries, working to eliminate poverty housing worldwide.
The Pittsburgh Habitat works in partnership with God and people
everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with
God's people in need by building and renovating houses so that
there are decent houses in decent communities in which people
can live and grow. This ambitious mission is made manageable by
the efforts of tens of thousands of people worldwide; most of
who are volunteers.
A
Focus on Neighborhoods
Pittsburgh Habitat's mission is the elimination of substandard
housing in Allegheny County. Since 1986 49 families, who were
living in substandard conditions, have moved into their own homes.
Our building neighborhoods in Pittsburgh include East Liberty,
North Side, and Hill District; in Allegheny County - Braddock,
Rankin, Homestead, Duquesne, North Braddock, Wilkinsburg and McKees
Rocks. The Pittsburgh Habitat will consider other areas depending
upon site control and the ability to build several houses within
the same community. Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity works in partnership
with volunteers and low-income families in need, to build homes,
which are then purchased by these families through no-profit,
no-interest mortgages.
A
Focus on Families
How does Habitat make this dream of owning a home a reality? First,
we select a family that needs a home but cannot afford or otherwise
qualify for a conventional mortgage. We serve families with modest
but steady incomes. In keeping with Federal, State and local laws,
Habitat does not discriminate in its family selection process
on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability
or source of income.
After the Pittsburgh Habitat Board of Directors approves a family
for home-ownership, family members begin earning Sweat Equity
by working 350 hours of labor at house construction sites. After
50 hours of working on another family's house, a site is chosen
for their home. Next, an army of enthusiastic volunteers works
side-by-side with the family to build the house, which, will become
their home. This construction experience helps families learn
to maintain their new home and fosters a sense of pride, accomplishment,
and responsibility to their community.
Once the construction is complete, PHH enters into a mortgage
agreement with the family. All Habitat mortgages are issued on
a no-profit, no-interest basis. Mortgage payments are recycled
and used to fund additional homes as a "Fund for Humanity".
Therefore, every Habitat dollar helps to fund not one home, but
many. Finally, by including the closing costs in the mortgage
note, a family needs only a nominal down payment.
Conclusion
Throughout the world, Habitat for Humanity's efforts to provide
decent, affordable housing for God's people in need strikes a
chord in the hearts of many. All are invited to bring forward
their gifts: of labor, of time, of material and financial resources,
and of course, of prayer. With your help, we look forward to the
elimination of substandard housing in Allegheny County and throughout
the world.
About
Habitat for Humanity
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