Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a not-for-profit, 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 for Humanity of Florida has an open-door policy; all who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest a minimum of 300 hours of their own labor — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
Studies have shown the many benefits of homeownership. Children of homeowners:
- are 25 percent more likely to graduate from high school
- are 116 percent more likely to graduate from college
- have 3 percent fewer behavioral problems
- are 59 percent more likely to own their own home within 10 years of leaving their parents' household
- are 20 percent less likely to become teenage parents
