Flint River Habitat for Humanity

Flint River Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing from Dougherty and Lee County and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. By having needy and affluent people work together in equal partnership, Habitat builds new relationships and a sense of community as well as new housing.

Through volunteer labor, management expertise, and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of the homeowners. Houses are sold at no profit to partner families, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period. Currently, a Habitat house in Dougherty and/or Lee County cost homeowners on average approximately $40,000. Small monthly mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance, are repaid over 20 to 25 years and deposited into a revolving “Fund for Humanity” which supports the construction of more houses.

Habitat relies on tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, civic groups, banks, businesses and congregations. Gifts to Habitat fund our building efforts and administrative costs. The completed homes then produce mortgage payments which are deposited into a revolving “Fund for Humanity” which supports future homes. A contribution to Habitat lives for years to come.

An ecumenical board of 12 to 30 people meet once a month to determine policy and monitor operations in conjunction with committee chairpersons.

Habitat is not a giveaway program, but is a joint venture in which those who benefit from the housing ministry are involved in the work at various levels. Each homeowner family is required to invest “sweat equity” hours into the construction of their home. This reduces the cost of the house, increases the pride of ownership among family members, and fosters the development of positive relationships with other persons. In addition to construction of their home, the families are also given credit towards their sweat equity for attending training classes in financial budgeting, home maintenance, lawn maintenance, energy efficiency and many other areas. Habitat aspires to empower them to assist them in developing self-sufficiency to break the poverty cycle.

Families complete and submit a homeowner application to the Flint River Habitat affiliate. The family selection committee reviews the applications and arranges several home visits/interviews with the potential families. The selection committee then chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan. Flint River Habitat for Humanity, along with all other Habitat for Humanity affiliates, follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families to receive Habitat houses.

Habitat does not accept government money for construction of new houses, renovation or repair of existing houses, or the general operating expenses of projects. Habitat does, however, accept funds of the acquisition of streets, utilities, land, or old houses needing rehabilitation, provided those funds have no provision attached that would violate Habitat’s principles.

Our mission for the Habitat*AmeriCorps program is three-fold. Members will get things done by building and renovating houses for low-income families. Members will strengthen communities by enabling the affiliates to utilize more volunteers more effectively, bringing together diverse partners in a common cause. Members will develop their skills in construction and leadership by serving as crew leaders on a daily basis, and they will develop their sense of citizenship through their service and reflection, and by being inspired by the hundreds of volunteers each of them will serve alongside.

Over five million families in the United States lack an adequate place to live. To that end, Habitat affiliates have built or renovated over 30,000 houses in the past 24 years in more than 1,500 U.S. communities. Habitat for Humanity encourages all people, regardless of construction expertise, to come to our work sites and help build a home with a family in need. One of our stumbling blocks is that we have more volunteers than our staff can accommodate. To enable our affiliates to utilize the growing number of volunteers who want to partner with us, and to ensure quality construction and a safe work site, affiliates need long-term trained crew leaders.

Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and with people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities in which people can live and grow into all that God intended. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and with no interest charged. Habitat partner families must meet three criteria: need for affordable housing, ability to repay the no-interest loan, and a willingness to partner – 300-500 hours of their own labor – on their house and the houses of others.

Flint River Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and God’s people to eliminate poverty housing in Lee and Dougherty counties.

AmeriCorps is the perfect partnership to meet this need. The impact of the AmeriCorps program not only enables affiliates to utilize a greater number of volunteers, it also improves the volunteer experience, increasing the number of returning volunteers. In addition, our AmeriCorps members serve alongside our partner families, teaching them constructions and home maintenance skills.

Our mission for the Habitat*AmeriCorps program is three-fold. Members will get things done by building and renovating houses for low-income families. Members will strengthen communities by enabling the affiliates to utilize more volunteers more effectively, bringing together diverse partners in a common cause. Members will develop their skills in construction and leadership by serving as crew leaders on a daily basis, and they will develop their sense of citizenship through their service and reflection, and by being inspired by the hundreds of volunteers each of them will serve alongside.

Spring Break Volunteer Supervisors Needed from Mar 2 - Mar 30, 2003