How Habitat Works
Columbia County Habitat for Humanity (CCHFH) builds homes and revitalizes neighborhoods in Columbia County, NY. We rely on the support of hundreds of volunteers, organizations, and businesses located throughout the county. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Working with the towns in the county we select vacant lots upon which to build homes. The lots are sometimes available through foreclosure and sometimes are donated to us by private parties.
Homes are built by several hundred volunteers joining us annually, who are trained and supervised by our professional construction supervisors. Financial support, material donations, and construction services are provided by individuals, corporations, and local businesses.
Engaging Homeowner Partners
Habitat provides “a hand up, not a handout.” Homes are purchased through a zero-interest, 30-year mortgage held by CCHFH, and homeowners often find that their monthly mortgage payment is less costly than when they rented.
Selection of homeowners is based on a family’s need for decent affordable shelter, household income that is 60 percent below the median for the county and a willingness to partner with CCHFH by investing sweat equity and making mortgage payments reliably.
Each family contributes 300 hours of sweat equity — in the construction of their new house or into other Habitat projects. New Habitat homeowners complete a series of classes and typically become role models for other homeowners in the county.
Join Us!
As an individual:
- Volunteer — on construction, at the ReStore, in the office, on a committee, on the board, or on a special event.
- Make a donation — on-line or by mail, donate a car, or choose your favorite way to support our work.
With Your Organization:
- Use Habitat as an outreach project — send a work crew, funds or meals.
- Join a coalition in sponsoring a house
Through Your Business:
- Make an iin-kind gift of materials, tools, or services
- Become a corporate member ($1,000 or more)
- Sponsor a house, in full or in part ($10,000 to $75,000)
