You may have perfected the art of investing in real estate, buying properties and making a profit. But have you ever helped build a house for someone else?
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. It helps low-income working families own a home for the first time. Since 1976, the organization has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. And there’s almost certainly a Habitat affiliate near you.
How Habitat works
Habitat staff, local volunteers and the recipient family gather together to build or rehabilitate a house. The family invests “sweat equity,” while most of the building supplies, lots and rehab houses are donated. Once completed, the new Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses.
Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
You can make a direct, lasting impact on lives in your community by swinging a hammer, picking up a paintbrush or hauling trash on a Habitat project. By partnering locally and getting your hands dirty, you gain a whole new perspective on your neighbors and get a firsthand glimpse of lives being transformed.
Some of you are saying, “Time is money. Can’t I just write a check?” You could, but time invested in others pays you a huge profit of self-satisfaction, connection, community, and a renewed faith in people.
Consider it a new way of networking.
Visit www.habitat.org and click on “Get Involved” to see what you can do for a family in your community.
Tags: charitable, Habitat for Humanity, housing, sweat equity