Mission

Mission StatementHabitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live and housing poverty and homelessness are eliminated. We believe that the home is a key catalyst in helping to permanently break the cycle of poverty.To champion decent housing as a human right. Mobilise and support communities to implement projects that help people in housing need to claim their housing rights, create access to and overcome barriers to safe, decent and appropriate housing. This usually takes the form of a community-led construction, renovation or new build project.Make housing poverty and homelessness a matter of conscience and action so that it becomes unacceptable in every nation on earth.Our core valuesLoveWe believe that everyone has the right to a safe, decent home. That's why, even though Habitat for Humanity is a movement originally rooted in the Christian faith, we work with people of all faiths and socio-cultural backgrounds. We do not push for any religious agenda, and only retain the universal values of humanism and love in our work. We only prioritise the greatest need in our decision-making process.InclusionWe also recognise that there are many others of all faiths and none who feel just as passionately about these issues, and welcome them to work with us. Working together as a community in practical action is a key part of what makes us who we are. Solving the issues of poverty housing takes a movement of people on a grand scale. So whoever you are, whatever you do or believe, if you agree that poverty housing is unacceptable – we welcome you to join with us and be part of the solution!Community self-helpWe believe that every community, no matter how poor, has the potential capacity and capability to solve their own housing issues. We work with them to develop that potential so that, by participating in their own solution, they develop leadership, management and practical skills that can be used in other ways to benefit the community. Participation by local communities is both a means and an end.Our international programmeHousing has a catalytic impact on the many areas of international development. These include:Income generation - The poor often use their home for income generation, such as home cooking for sale, collecting and sorting cloth, sewing, etc.Education - A room that is quiet and well lit enables students to do homework and improves educational prospects.Personal safety - A home that can be secured protects vulnerable adolescents, and also enables adults to leave their home unoccupied while they go out to work.Health - Unplastered walls can harbour virus-carrying insects like the triatomine bug in South America. Safe water and hygienic toilets have a tremendous impact in reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and dysentery.When we make a house a home we also strengthen family life and wellbeing. It becomes the place where people grow together, support each other, and laugh together.Housing has a major role in achieiving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Category

Poverty Alleviation

Additional Information

We are Habitat for Humanity, one of the world’s leading shelter NGOs. Our mission is to build a safe environment where families and communities can thrive. Access to decent housing is the foundation to achieving essential human rights such as: education, property, food and privacy. Home is the first step toward a future of opportunities and prosperity.  Since 1976, our worldwide network working in over 70 countries has build nearly 1 million homes, serving about 6.8 million people. Our work takes us across the world on projects such as:  Housing Lesotho's orphans and disabled Setting up refugee camps in Macedonia Building emergency housing in Haiti Funding clean water projects in Delhi Building affordable homes here in the UK We are constantly reaching out to those who need us most, to those who cannot reach out for themselves. Building a world where everyone has a safe place to call home will take all of us. By working together, we can all play a part. We can all make a difference. That's why we also make it a priority to help those in the most vulnerable situations, such as: Single parent homes Orphans Elderly People with chronic illnesses or disabilities Help us break the cycle of poverty once and for all.