Since being founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller and his wife Linda, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need

How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.

What does a Habitat house cost?
Throughout the world, the cost of houses varies from as little as $800 in some developing countries to an average of $60,000 in the United States.

Habitat houses are affordable for low-income families because there is no profit included in the sale price and no interest charged on the mortgage. Mortgage length can vary from seven to 30 years, but typically is 20 years.

How are the partner families selected?
Families apply to local Habitat affiliates. A 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 or religion is a factor in choosing the families that receive Habitat houses.

How are donations used?
Approximately 95% of all cash donations received are used to build homes. Your cash donation can be specified by you, to pay for a specific part of the building, or for a specific use. We tithe 10% of the cash donations to Habitat for Humanity International for construction of homes worldwide. Our overhead consists of a telephone, post office box and mailing expenses, and rental of storage/office space to store materials.  No member of the board or committees is paid a salary. Our first priority is to build homes.

How can I become involved or find more information about the Phelps County Affiliate?
You can contact us by phone, address or email. Our board meetings are usually on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., but we may change the time.  The location of our board meetings will change when we move from our current storage/office space.  Please call ahead if you are interested in attending a meeting.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

PHONE--573-368-5110

MAILING ADDRESS--P.O. Box 1551 ~ Rolla, MO 65401

EMAIL--habitat@rollanet.org