Habitat for Humanity, International  (HFHI):

• Started in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, in its  first 26 years HFHI built more than 125,000 houses to house more than 450,000 people.  The plan to build an additional 100,000 houses in 5 years was completed in 2006.  To date, over 500,000 homes have been built and they house over 2.5 million people around the world.
• Every 24 minutes a Habitat house is completed somewhere in the world.
• Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical, Christian, housing ministry.  However, Habitat for Humanity is a proud Equal Opportunity Housing organization, and accepts help from all, and offers help to all, regardless of religious views, age, sexual preference, etc.
• Habitat for Humanity principles :
  • Economics of Jesus – God uses the small to accomplish the great. The weak become strong and the average become above average.  All human life is priceless no matter what. We are to share what we have.
  • Theology of the Hammer – It is our duty to put aside our differences, work together and through the use of the hammer we will show God’s love.  It is a partnership with God.

Habitat for Humanity Affiliates

• Affiliates (like ours) are official non-profit housing agencies.
• Created and operated by local people,  Affiliates like HFHSCA are dedicated to making a difference right in our own backyard.
• Allows everyone to put their faith into action and eliminate substandard housing locally and worldwide through the covenant relationship with HFHI.
• Habitat for Humanity is a people-to-people partnership and acts in a non discriminatory manner.
• Families buy their homes through a no interest, no profit mortgage and must invest many hours of volunteer labor through sweat equity to become homeowners.
• It is a program to give families that would not be able to get a conventional mortgage in any other way a chance to own a home.
• Government funds are accepted in only limited ways.
• The local affiliate has a tithe covenant to support HFHI and this assists the building of houses around the world.

Habitat for Humanity of the Sauk-Columbia Area, Inc  (HFHSCA):

• This local affiliate has unofficially been in existence since 1999.
• Habitat for Humanity of Sauk Columbia Area was  given final approval as of 12/01/01.
• We are serious about our commitment to this area   and its substandard housing needs.
• Phases of group activity and possible individual interest are :
  • Site Selection – ongoing search for building  sites.
  • Development – PR, fund development and many other duties of the organization.
  • Church Relations – establishes and maintains relationships with our church partners.
  • Family Selection – screens and selects our partner families.
  • Family Support – assists in family support and partnering with families selected.
  • Building – makes the actual construction happen.
  • Volunteer – many coordinating tasks for planning participation of volunteers.
  • Nomination – recruits talented people to serve within HFHSCA.
• HFHSCA needs between 40 – 70 people to make the organization work flow smoothly.
• Partners are needed in the church, business and industry communities, as well as individuals who want to put their shoulder to the wheel.
• Board of Directors – responsible for the official performance of the Affiliate.
• HFHSCA serves all of Sauk and Columbia counties.
• All committees are active and we have families interested in home ownership, funds being developed, building sites being searched, volunteers being recruited, and communities, churches, and groups being made aware of our existence.

Did You Know?

• It takes about $60,000 – $105,000 to build a Habitat house in our area.
• Average mortgage payment is around $500 – $775,  including taxes and insurance.
• Each home owner in our affiliate must contribute a minimum of 200 hours of sweat equity per adult, up to a maximum of 400 hours.
• Habitat for Humanity homes are simple, decent homes built without frills.
• This is a program for families that could not own their own home in any other way.
• Through this activity we build houses and see changed lives. It is about helping people.
• Our affiliate has built 15 homes. The first house was in Sauk City, completed in September 2003.
• The fastest house built was in 2003 in Shelby County, Alabama and was built in 3 hours, 26 minutes and 34 seconds.
• You can not do everything, but you can so something and when you do that something we can all be effective in this partnership with God.
• Won’t it be nice to be able to continue to accomplish this right here?  Won’t you come join us?