History of Habitat for Humanity

In 1976, Millard and Linda Fuller were a wealthy, successful, young couple who had grown weary and disillusioned with excess and exclusion.  In midlife crisis mode, they radically changed their lifestyle and adopted a “theology of simplicity”.

They proactively addressed the issues of segregation in Georgia at a time when segregation and prejudice were in full bloom.  In a “mission of action and conscience”, they began working side-by side southern African-American families to address homelessness and prejudice.

This bold, radical-inclusiveness has now spread to over 100 countries and built over 230,000 homes worldwide through the ever-growing community known as “Habitat for Humanity”.  

Habitat for Humanity believes that everyone on earth deserves a safe, decent place to live. In equal partnership, volunteers from ALL walks of life, ALL income levels, ALL perspectives and ALL belief systems choose to put down their differences and pick up a hammer to help hard-working, low-income families break the cycle of poverty and build not only homes, but hope!

What Habitat Does

• builds homes in partnership with families who qualify for homeownership based on four criteria:  need, a willingness to partner with HFH, and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage and certification of Benton County residency for at least one year.
  
• works with caring people regardless of their cultural traditions or religious affiliations.  
  
• sells its houses at no profit with no interest charged.
  
• has built and renovated over 230,000 houses worldwide since 1976.

About Benton Habitat

Mission Statement:
Benton Habitat for Humanity is a countywide, ecumenical ministry that seeks to eliminate sub-standard housing and to make decent shelter a matter of action and conscience.  By having people from all income levels work together in equal partnerhsip, Habitat builds new relationships and a sense of community, as well as new housing.  

Founded in 1991, Benton Habitat for Humanity is a certified 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization located in Corvallis, Oregon. We are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing worldwide and creating hope through homeownership in Benton County, Oregon.  To date, we have built 24 homes and are beginning designs for 13 more.

Benton Habitat invites people from all incomes, faiths, perspectives and walks of life to work together in partnership, building homes and community with partner-families.

How We Do it

Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent homes with partner families.  After construction, Habitat homes are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving "Fund for Humanity" that is used to build more homes

Family Selection

Whether in the U.S. or overseas, families in need apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate's Family Selection Committee considers applicants' level of need, their willingness to become partners in the Habitat 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 Habitat homeowner families.

Habitat and its Affiliates

Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use the Habitat for Humanity International affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in other areas.

Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form a Habitat affiliate in their community. We believe in putting down our differences and picking up a hammer  to "Build Hope and Homes".  Fundraising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI headquarters, located in Americus, Ga., provides information, training, support and other services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

Donations

Donations are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by us that are designated to a specific building project are forwarded to that project. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed after a 10% tithe is sent to Habitat for Humanity International. Our most recent audited financial statement is available upon request.

Management

Our Board of Directors determines policy and monitors operations in conjunction with a board of advisors. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of affordable housing in our community. We operate with a small staff that is supplemented by long-term and short-term volunteers.