Habitat's Mission

• a grassroots Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty and substandard housing worldwide.
  
• believes that every person deserves, at least, a simple and decent place in which to live and grow into all that God intends for them to be
  
• builds or renovates houses in partnership with families who qualify for homeownership based on three criteria: need, a willingness to partner with HFH and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage
  
• works with people of all faiths and people of no faith
  
• sells its houses at no profit, with no interest charged
  
• has built and renovated over 225,000 houses worldwide since 1976

History
Our affiliate obtained official status in December, 1995 in the West Bay area, and we expanded into the northern Rhode Island area in 2000. During that time, we have provided homes for six families, entirely through volunteer efforts. Communities served by our affiliate are Burrillville, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Scituate, Smithfield, Warwick, West Greenwich, West Warwick and Woonsocket.

We are currently close to finishing a duplex in Cumberland, RI, creating homes for two more families. The completion has been a long time in coming; after initially acquiring the land in 2000, clearing the land, building a road, installing sewers, and many delays, the hard work of our volunteers is finally producing the end objective. To find the property, at 21 and 23 Clairmont Street, turn from Rte 114 onto Rosemont, then left on Park, and continue on the newly paved road.

How We Do it
Through donations of time, volunteer help, and tax-deductible donations of money and building 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 are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.

Family Selection
Whether in the U.S. or overseas, families in need apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate's family selection committee considers applicants' level of need, their willingness to become partners in the Habitat program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families.

If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, please check our Home Ownership page where you will find information on the availability, size, costs, and sweat equity requirements for Habitat houses in our area, as well as information on the application process.

Donations
Donations of any amount are crucial to our ability to continue to carry out our mission. Donations are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by us that are designated to a specific building project are forwarded to that project. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed. Online donations are a safe, secure way to help Habitat carry out its mission. Our most recent audited financial statement is available upon request.

Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors determines policy and monitors operations. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of inadequate housing in our community. We operate with the support of long-term and short-term volunteers, with no paid staff or employees.

Our Current Board of Directors:
President - Gary LeFrancois
Vice President -
Secretary - Deb Stacey
Treasurers - Ray Ardente
Earl Marsh
Rosalie Jalbert
Evan McCarthy
Bob Lincourt
Patricia Newman
Peggy Rubel
Niky White
Michaela Smith
Steve Whitney

Government Support
Habitat does not accept government funds for the construction of new houses or for the renovation or repair of existing houses. Ocassionally, we accept government funds for "stage-setting" infrastructure needs (streets, sewers, etc.) , or for the acquisition of land, so long as the funds have no strings attached that would violate Habitat's principles.