Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry with the mission of providing decent, affordable housing in partnership with families of modest income.  The homeowner partners sign a covenant agreeing to provide 500 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build the homes they buy from the organization.

Habitat operates on the  “Economics of Jesus” in the words of founder Millard Fuller of Americus, Georgia.  Local affiliates of the worldwide organization collect no interest and earn no profit from the families they provide with decent affordable housing.

Because Habitat collects no interest, the monthly mortgage payment is usually less than $200, plus whatever tax escrow payment that may apply. That means the average Habitat family has a monthly payment of under $400,
usually less than a rent payment.  Because there is no interest, 100% of the mortgage payment itself is applied toward equity in the home, and Habitat then re-invests the proceeds in the building of additional homes.

Habitat welcomes gifts of cash, building materials or real properties where its volunteers might build a new home or rehabilitate an existing one for a future partner family.

The goal of Habitat is to “eliminate poverty housing from the face of the earth,”  according to the vision of its founder, Millard Fuller.  He leads a tireless effort by countless volunteers to follow the example of the Carpenter Jesus Christ, and to provide decent affordable housing for all God ’s children in need.

Habitat began its ecumenical Christian housing ministry in 1976.  Since then, more than 100-thousand homes have been built or rehabilitated in some 70 countries around the world.  Currently, a Habitat home is finished somewhere in the world every 25 minutes!  Habitat Lockport was founded by local volunteers in 1996, and has completed ten homes in Eastern Niagara County since.

Virtually all of the local contributions to Habitat Lockport go to work building homes locally, with one notable exception:  the local affiliate contributes financially to the work of Habitat International each time a home is dedicated here.  That allows the organization to build as many as seven homes overseas for each one done in Eastern Niagara County.

To find out more, call Habitat Lockport at 433-5073.  You can write to Habitat Lockport at P. O. Box 884, Lockport, NY 14095.  You can also contact Robert Muffler at Muffler@nationwide.com for more information or Linda Pickreign at lpickreign@lockport.wnyric.org