About Habitat For Humanity

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Habitat for Humanity Canada is now working right across Canada. To date, volunteers and Habitat families have built over 1000 houses across the country.

Habitat for Humanity-National Capital Region (NCR) became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada in 1993. As one of over 70 affiliates in Canada, Habitat-NCR is responsible for raising its own funds, organizing volunteers and building homes for families living in need in the National Capital Region. The first Habitat-NCR home was built in 1994. To date, Summer 2006, we just completed our 27th, 28th, and 29th homes!

Habitat for Humanity-NCR is a non-government, non-profit organization which builds simple, decent, affordable houses with working, low-income families, and volunteers from a broad spectrum of the community. Potential Habitat for Humanity families are low-income families living in inadequate housing which necessitates a move and are willing to put in 500 hours of "Sweat equity". Interest charges are a prime reason that house ownership is out of reach for many inadequately sheltered people. The Habitat approach requires that no interest is charged to people in need. Homeowners make monthly payments on interest-free mortgages, which is approximately 25% of the family income and includes taxes and insurance.

Habitat does not receive direct government funding, although indirect support is received in some communities through land donations, the reduction of municipal service costs or government grants. Habitat for Humanity does not compete with other builders as Habitat services a clientele who could never afford to buy a house or qualify for a conventional mortgage.

Habitat for Humanity is funded through donations from volunteers, individuals, businesses, service clubs, foundations, manufacturers and distributors. Houses are built by volunteers, skilled trades people and journeymen who are caring individuals, enthusiastic about giving a family in need of a "hand up not a hand out". Manufacturers and distributors in the construction industry donate their products to help build houses and reduce our costs.

The real miracle of Habitat is that it not only changes the lives of the families receiving the house, but it provides a tremendous sense of purpose and fulfillment for many volunteers and supporters.
Inclusiveness

Habitat is a non-discriminatory organization, inviting people from a broad spectrum of social, ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds to work together.
Partnership

Habitat is not a giveaway program, but a joint partnership venture involving community and corporate donors, prospective homeowners and volunteers. Low-income families are offered a “hand up not a hand out” partnership. Families and volunteers are co-workers on an equal footing, contributing from their own experience for the good of all.
Sweat Equity

“Sweat equity” is the unpaid labour invested by each Habitat partner family. The family assists in the construction of their own homes and those of other prospective Habitat homeowners by contributing 500 hours of labour. This arrangement reduces cost, increases pride of ownership and fosters positive relationships.
What Does A Habitat House Cost?

Currently, a simple, decent, affordable, three-bedroom Habitat house costs $75,000 to build, plus the cost of the land.
The Habitat ReStore

Our Habitat ReStore opened in November 1998, and is a retail outlet which sells donated and salvaged, new and used building materials and hardware.

As a fundraising effort, Habitat ReStore profits are used to cover the day-to-day administrative costs of Habitat for Humanity-NCR. This allows us to put financial donations directly toward building houses in partnership with low-income families.