Habitat for Humanity:
• is a grassroots Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty and substandard housing worldwide.
• believes that every person deserves, at least, a simple and decent place in which to live and grow.
• builds or renovates houses in partnership with families who qualify for homeownership based on three criteria:  need, a willingness to partner with HFH, and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage.
• works with people of all backgrounds.
• sells its houses at no profit, with no interest charged.

History of Habitat International
Habitat for Humanity International is a grassroots Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent homes a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all every race and religion to build houses together in partnership with families in need. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use the Habitat for Humanity International affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in other areas.

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife, Linda. Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Fundraising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. Habitat for Humanity International headquarters, located in Americus, Ga., provides information, training, support and other services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

History of Our Local Affiliate
The Greater Fairbanks Area Habitat for Humanity was incorporated in 1998.  Construction on the first Habitat home in Fairbanks started in July of 1999.  The house was completed and dedicated in March of 2000.  Between 2000 and 2005 our Affiliate has built seven houses in the Fairbanks area. In 2006 we began construction on three more homes: two in Fairbanks and one in North Pole. We will begin two more houses and complete our 13th house this summer.

Board of Directors
Our board of directors determines policy and monitors operations. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing in our community. We operate with a small staff headed by our Executive Director, Allen Jones, who is assisted by a core group of dedicated clerical, building and administrative support volunteers supplemented by short-term volunteers.

Construction History
Construction on the first Habitat home in Fairbanks started in July of 1999.  The house was completed and dedicated in March of 2000.  Between 2000 and 2005 our Affiliate has built seven houses in the Fairbanks area. In 2006 we began construction on three more homes: two in Fairbanks and one in North Pole. We will begin two more houses and complete our 13th house this summer.
completed in August 2006. Two local contractors, along with the Interior Alaska Builders Association (IABA) sponsored and even built the house for us!!

2007 is promising with several teams already scheduled and sponsorships from Lowes for a Women Build home and several local churches sponsoring a house through Apostle Build. We are getting ready to head into a Capital Campaign to raise funds to renovate the warehouse for a ReStore.

How We Do it
Habitat is hand up program not a hand out. Through dedicated volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent homes with the help of the selected families. Habitat homes are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage
payments are used to finance the continues construction of home in our community.
In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor and sweat equity into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Family Selection
Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat Affiliates. The Affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.

If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, contact the Habitat affiliate nearest you. If you are not sure where you local Habitat affiliate is, you can go to www.habitat.org to find the names and phone numbers of affiliates in your area, or contact the Habitat Help Line at (800) 422-4828, Ext. 2551 or 2552. Your local
affiliate can give you information on the availability, size, costs and sweat-equity requirements for Habitat homes in your area, as well as information on the application process.