Our Mission
We are a center for experiential education, rooted in the Gospels, encouraging the transformation of human consciousness through contemplation, and equipping people to be instruments of peaceful change in the world.
Featured Resource
Habitat new house in Buffalo, New York
Habitat for Humanity: Elders and Learners
by Tom Graham, MROP 1996, Ghost Ranch, NM
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Habitat’s mission and goals are in alignment with the M.A.L.Es program. For IMs who don’t have a specific Outreach Ministry, HFH works well because men like to work with their hands and build things. There are also many non-construction opportunities for men with physical limitations or who may not be handy such as: site selection, family selection, family liaison, volunteer coordination, etc.
The majority of the Habitat volunteers are men. Most of the Habitat Buffalo, NY volunteers are men between ages 60-75. These men are Elders for young men and women who volunteer. Each spring, 40 students from the University at Buffalo School of Architecture, enroll in a three credit hour course and completely frame four new Habitat houses in three weeks. The UB students are mentored by Habitat volunteers and supervisors who have constructed 214 Habitat houses in Buffalo, NY over 25 years.
This spring, HFH Buffalo had Collegiate Challenge groups come to Buffalo for their alternative spring break. They came from McGill University in Canada, University of Pittsburgh, Hiram College, OH, Villanova College, Providence College, RI, Norwich University, VT, Kent State, OH and King City, Ontario Canada.
On a regular basis, young volunteers from local high schools, community colleges, Newman Centers and parishes work with Habitat elders to build new Habitat houses and to rehabilitate old houses that would otherwise be demolished. Young volunteers, with no construction skills, enjoy ‘gutting’ an old house in preparation for a complete rehabilitation.
Last year, women with construction experience mentored young women and girls in completing the third Habitat Buffalo ‘Women’s Build’ house. All the work on these three new houses was done by women. Women also serve and lead family selection, family liaison, family support, volunteer coordination and provide leadership on many of the back-office functions that are keys to a successful Habitat affiliate.
About Habitat for Humanity
- HFH seeks to eliminate poverty and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
- To accomplish these goals, HFH invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
- Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda.
- Today, HFH has built over 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
How does it work?
- Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner (partner) families.
- Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest 500 hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
- Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans with 0% interest.
- The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.
How are partner families selected?
- 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.
Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
- Worldwide, including nearly 90 countries, there are over 550 International affiliates.
- There are over 1,720 affiliates in all 50 states of the United States.
House Dedications
- At each house dedication, the family is given a bible and other gifts.
- There are scripture readings.
- A local minister or priest conducts a prayer service.
- Amazing Grace is song and all pray the Our Father.
Habitat for Humanity provides a unique experience for young men to be mentored by older men. The young men learn practical constructions skills, serve the poor and help eliminate poverty and urban blight. Children of Habitat families, who purchase a Habitat house, have improved health and do better in school. For more information, visit Habitat’s website www.habitat.org.
