What is Habitat for Humanity?   
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) 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 consciousness and action. Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses around the world, providing some 1,000,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Milliard Fuller along with his wife Linda.

How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and renovates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans.

The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses. Habitat carries out its mission at the community level through organized groups that are called affiliates.

Affiliates around the world raise the funds used to construct houses. Some affiliates in developing countries also receive funding grants from Habitat for Humanity International.

All Habitat affiliates are asked to tithe — to give 10 percent of their contributions to fund house building work in other nations.

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor — sweat equity — into building their house and the houses of others.

What does a Habitat House cost?
Throughout the world, the cost of housing varies from as little as a few thousand dollars in some developing countries to an average of $42,250 in the United States.

Habitat houses are affordable for low-income families because there is no profit included in the sale price and no interest charged on the mortgage. Mortgage length varies from seven to 30 years.
How are partner families selected?

Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate’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 no-interest loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.

How can I help?
Get involved! Join in volunteer activities with Habitat for Humanity Cape May County.

Pray for the work of Habitat for Humanity.

Contribute financially to our local affiliate, and/or participate in Habitat fund raising events.

Habitat affiliates need people to help build, to serve on committee’s and to spread the word about Habitat.