Habitat for Humanity International builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of homeowner (known as “partner”) families, volunteer labor, and donations of money and materials. Architects, engineers, bricklayers, mason, carpenters and other professionals and sSkilled workers are employed for specialist jobs.

Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit. Homeowners repay through affordable, inflation-adjusted, no-interest mortgage loans. Their monthly mortgage payments return to local revolving funds which allows still more Habitat houses to be built.

The cost of houses varies, from as little as US$1,600 in some parts of developing parts of Asia. Mortgage lengths vary from four to 30 years. Costs depend on location, labor, land and material costs, and ancillary development expenses

Habitat is not a “giveaway” program. In addition to an initial down payment and monthly mortgage repayments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – “sweat equity” -- into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Additional “muscle” for construction comes from volunteers from local affiliates, partner corporations and organizations, universities, schools, and youth groups. Volunteers, often from the other side of the world, speed-building work in Blitz Builds, Global Village programs, and annual Jimmy Carter Work Projects.

Habitat uses a variety of innovative approaches to funding and offers a variety of ways for partner families to become Habitat homeowners.