Habitat for Humanity is an inclusive, non-profit, non-government organization seeking to create a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.  Habitat builds simple, affordable houses and sells them to families in need of adequate shelter.  Through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, Habitat for Humanity works with partner families to build or renovate simple, decent housing.  Houses are sold to Partner Families with no downpayment and are financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages.  Homeowner families invest 500 hours of their own labour into building their own house and the houses of other families.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller and headquartered in Americus, Georgia.  It was created with a vision for all people that is rooted in the Judeo-Christian faith, but is universal in its appeal and application.  Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, host annual work projects and are Habitat’s most famous volunteers.  HFH International has built over 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.  HFH Canada was founded in 1985 and has a National office in Waterloo, Ontario.  There are 72 Habitat Affiliates across Canada, which have built more than 1000 homes since 1985.  Today, Habitat for Humanity's efforts result in a family somewhere in the world receiving the key to their new Habitat home every 21 minutes.

The three criteria to qualify for a Habitat home are

1. need for affordable housing,
2. ability to repay a Habitat mortgage and
3. willingness to partner with Habitat. 



Need for affordable housing is defined by a family income that is within the recognized government-set low income guidelines for their particular region, and existing living conditions that are inadequate in terms of structure, cost, safety or size. The ratio of shelter expense to total income is also factored.

Ability to repay a Habitat mortgage requires that the family has a stable income sufficient to cover the monthly mortgage payments and other expenses that come with home ownership.

Homeowners must demonstrate a willingness to partner with Habitat by contributing 500 hours of volunteer labor ("sweat equity") towards the building of their home.

The house is paid for through an interest-free mortgage, with payments based on 25% of the household gross income (covers mortgage and taxes).  The mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity and are reused to build more Habitat homes.  Should a family wish to move Habitat for Humanity has first right of refusal to buy the home back.

In 1999 Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver bought an acre of land located at 8745 Government St. in Burnaby.  This site is being built in six phases and consists of row townhouses.  As with other residential home-ownership developments, Habitat for Humanity families will pay a monthly mortgage for their homes as well as strata fees.  Since homebuyers invest at least 500 hours of their time into building their home and future neighbourhood, Habitat families are like all other families: proud and responsible homeowners eager to become members of a community.  Through innovation, commitment and community involvement, Habitat for Humanity helps provide a long-term solution to the issues of affordable housing in BC and beyond.