subject: Donating To Habitat Of Florida [print this page] The Lakeland chapter of the Habitat of Florida, also known as Habitat for Humanity, was approved as an affiliate by the International organization in February of 1991. The group is committed to the development of decent affordable homes for families who may otherwise not be able to afford them. The volunteers work with churches, businesses and needy families in the state to make sure that the experience of owning a home is a positive one. They have a family selection committee that chooses homeowners for the homes based on their needs, their willingness to become a partner with the program and their ability to pay back the mortgage to the organization.
The nationwide program Habitat for Humanity was founded by Millard and Linda fuller in 1976. Millard was a Georgia attorney who couldnt understand how working people in the richest country in the world could not afford to buy their own homes. In the late 1970s, the Fullers gave away most of their material possessions and changed their careers to start giving back to the community. Habitat was then founded as an ecumenical Christian housing ministry.
It is important to note that Habitat of Florida gives a hand up to families, and not a hand out the program of which they are so proud is not a giveaway program. There are many stipulations, rules and conditions that are within the building contracts that family members must abide by in order to be considered for a home. In addition to paying a down payment and a monthly mortgage, home owners are required to invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their house and also the houses f others. Habitat of Florida houses are sold to other families at no profit and they are then financed with affordable loans. So what is the mortgage money used for? Building more homes, of course!
Habitat of Florida knows that long term affordability is a crucial value for their organizations as well as for the home owners. Green building and sustainable development practices, methods and procedures provide an opportunity to increase and maintain the success of the families they serve. This is especially important as time goes by and in the current economy, when fuel costs are rising and so too are the building supply costs. Throughout the state so far, hundreds of families have been helped in many communities by the Habitat of Florida non profit organization.
