Habitat for Humanity Great Britain

Habitat for Humanity Great Britain

Habitat for Humanity Great Britain is a non-profit organisation seeking to eradicate housing poverty by helping families to build their own safe, decent homes. Habitat for Humanity Great Britain is part of Habitat for Humanity International which has helped over 3 million people out of poverty housing in over 70 countries across the globe.

Habitat for Humanity’s work is built on the belief that a healthy home can change every aspect of a person’s life. With a decent home, a person’s health is protected, providing access to clean water and sanitation facilities and protecting a family from the elements and from disease carrying insects. A good home will also present a family with opportunities; home based businesses can be set up and children have the opportunity to study for school, activities that are almost impossible in poverty housing. A decent home can make all the difference to family life; home is the place where families grow together and children can learn and play, and from individual families, communities grow.

Groups of people who have the benefit of decent housing can form strong communities that thrive. Habitat for Humanity works on the basis that helping a person into a proper home gives them a hand up, not a hand out; from this point on, they have the ability to help themselves out of poverty.

Habitat for Humanity often works by providing microfinance loans to families who would be unable to access them otherwise. The family pay off the loan in affordable instalments. This allows people to work for their new homes, allowing a sense of ownership and achievement; this money is put into a revolving fund that will then help more families achieve the dream of home ownership.

Habitat for Humanity also works with families who have lost their homes in natural disasters, partners with healthcare organisations to provide a holistic approach to helping those with HIV/AIDS, and has an Orphans and Vulnerable Groups project which prioritises children and adults with the very greatest need.

Values and beliefs

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian charity; the charity aims to put God’s love into action through its work. However, although the charity was built on Christian beliefs, they work on the principle that God’s love overlooks no-one and that everyone deserves a safe, decent place to live. People from all backgrounds and faiths are encouraged to volunteer with the charity, and faith is not taken into consideration when families are chosen to become Homepartners (beneficiaries).

Global Village

Habitat for Humanity’s volunteering programme, Global Village, gives volunteers the opportunity to work alongside people living in poverty building new homes together. Habitat for Humanity Great Britain has sent out several hundred teams since its volunteering programme started in 1998. On average, roughly 25-30 teams per year are sent to countries over 4 continents; South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

After the tsunami of December 26, 2004, many Global Village teams were sent out in response to the disaster, to help families repair and rebuild their former homes. 24 teams of volunteers were sent out to Sri Lanka in 2005, while in 2006, 22 teams went to Sri Lanka, and 8 went to India.

Julia Kendall, an interior designer and TV presenter with DIY SOS and 60 Minute Makeover, is a celebrity ambassador for Habitat for Humanity, and took part in the Nepal Big Build. In October 2012 hundreds of volunteers from all over the world, including the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, joined 50 volunteers from Great Britain in Nepal to work alongside local families living in poverty to build their new homes.

Domestic programme

Habitat for Humanity Great Britain operates a domestic building programme from London, implementing projects in Southwark, Liverpool and Banbury.

Projects in Great Britain are usually either new build projects, projects which focus on renovating empty homes, or community projects.

New build projects consist of building new houses and flats that are available to buy or rent at affordable prices, for those who otherwise couldn’t afford to access safe housing. It is the construction process that makes these projects accessible, innovative and different. Families hoping to buy or rent the homes developed are expected to contribute ‘sweat equity’ in lieu of payment; they are expected to partake in building the homes themselves as part of the repayment process. This also helps to develop a sense of ownership, and community spirit is built alongside the homes as volunteers work together with the new homeowners. The ‘empty houses to homes’ scheme is one in which dilapidated, empty properties are transformed into liveable accommodation through Habitat for Humanity. The money used to repair these homes is then repaid at affordable rates. Community projects include refurbishment and renovation in conjunction with charities such as YMCA and Women’s Solace.

Ongoing programmes

HOMEsponsor The HOMEsponsor programme is a regular giving scheme whereby supporters give a set donation on a monthly basis. This allows the charity to plan where their finances will go in advance and make the most of the donations they receive.

Events

The major charity event of the year for Habitat for Humanity Great Britain is Hope Challenge, held in the Peak District. Supporters are challenged to build and sleep in their own shelter for two nights, providing them with the opportunity to experience a couple of nights in a self-made ‘shack’. Over the weekend they will also have the chance to partake in a variety of other challenges, such as hikes and quizzes. Other challenges are also taken on by supporters of Habitat for Humanity, for example the Royal Parks Half Marathon and cycling challenges, from London to Edinburgh and London to Paris. Supporters are also encouraged to hold their own fundraising events, whatever their interests may be.

HOPE Builders

The HOPE Builders campaign is mainly aimed at the building industry. Companies work with Habitat for Humanity to raise enough money to build a target number of homes for families living in poverty housing. Targets are based on the fact that the average Habitat for Humanity home in the developing world costs £1235 to build.