Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity

"All God's people deserve a simple, decent place to live."
In 1976, Millard Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity with those words. Pittsburgh Habitat is one of over 2,300 affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit Christian housing ministry in over 100 countries, working to eliminate poverty housing worldwide. The Pittsburgh Habitat works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with God's people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which people can live and grow. This ambitious mission is made manageable by the efforts of tens of thousands of people worldwide; most of who are volunteers.

A Focus on Neighborhoods
Pittsburgh Habitat's mission is the elimination of substandard housing in Allegheny County. Since 1986, 55 families, who were living in substandard conditions, have moved into their own homes. Our building neighborhoods in Pittsburgh include East Liberty, North Side, and Hill District; in Allegheny County - Braddock, Duquesne, Etna, Homestead, McKees Rocks, North Braddock, Rankin, and Wilkinsburg. The Pittsburgh Habitat will consider other areas depending upon site control and the ability to build several houses within the same community. Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with volunteers and low-income families in need, to build homes, which are then purchased by these families through no-profit, no-interest mortgages.

A Focus on Families
How does Habitat make this dream of owning a home a reality? First, we select a family that needs a home but cannot afford or otherwise qualify for a conventional mortgage. We serve families with modest but steady incomes. In keeping with Federal, State and local laws, Habitat does not discriminate in its family selection process on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or source of income.

After the Pittsburgh Habitat Board of Directors approves a family for home-ownership, family members begin earning Sweat Equity by working 350 hours of labor at house construction sites. After 50 hours of working on another family's house, a site is chosen for their home. Next, an army of enthusiastic volunteers works side-by-side with the family to build the house, which, will become their home. This construction experience helps families learn to maintain their new home and fosters a sense of pride, accomplishment, and responsibility to their community.

Once the construction is complete, PHH enters into a mortgage agreement with the family. All Habitat mortgages are issued on a no-profit, no-interest basis. Mortgage payments are recycled and used to fund additional homes as a "Fund for Humanity". Therefore, every Habitat dollar helps to fund not one home, but many. Finally, by including the closing costs in the mortgage note, a family needs only a nominal down payment.

Conclusion
Throughout the world, Habitat for Humanity's efforts to provide decent, affordable housing for God's people in need strikes a chord in the hearts of many. All are invited to bring forward their gifts: of labor, of time, of material and financial resources, and of course, of prayer. With your help, we look forward to the elimination of substandard housing in Allegheny County and throughout the world.

pittsburghhabitat.com