Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast » Common Questions http://habitatsc.ca Building Homes. Building Hope. Thu, 17 May 2012 21:07:26 +0000 en hourly 1 Building Safely on a Construction Site http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/building-safely-on-a-construction-site/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/building-safely-on-a-construction-site/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:06:27 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/?p=148 This video is a great orientation to safety on a construction site.

]]> http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/building-safely-on-a-construction-site/feed/ 0 What can I do to help? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-can-i-do-to-help/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-can-i-do-to-help/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:27:35 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-can-i-do-to-help/
  • Volunteer to help build a house or in some other capacity with your local affililiate. See our volunteer page for ways to get involved on the Sunshine Coast.
  • Make a tax deductible donation to the Sunshine Coast affiliate through Habitat for Humanity Canada.
  • Participate in Habitat fund-raising events.
  • Involve your company or your faith community.
  • Make a planned gift.
  • Consider joining/starting a Campus Chapter.
  • Contact us for more information.

    • A wide variety of books, videos and literature are available to help you share Habitat’s vision with others. Materials may be ordered by mail, phone or fax. Order these materials from Habitat International by calling 1-800-422-5914.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-can-i-do-to-help/feed/ 0     How to Apply for a Habitat for Humanity House http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-to-apply-for-a-habitat-for-humanity-house/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-to-apply-for-a-habitat-for-humanity-house/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:52:04 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=43 If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, we may be able to help.

    Habitat affiliates are independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area, including partner family selection. Your local affiliate can give you information on the availability, size, costs, “sweat equity” work requirements and application process for Habitat houses in your area.

    Every affiliate chooses its homeowners based on the same three criteria:

    • the applicants’ level of need,
    • their willingness to become partners in the program
    • and their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest loan.

    Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.

    To apply, please e-mail the Family Selection Committee at familyselection@habitatsc.ca, and ask for an application form.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-to-apply-for-a-habitat-for-humanity-house/feed/ 0     How does Habitat for Humanity work? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-does-habitat-for-humanity-work/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-does-habitat-for-humanity-work/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:47:50 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=33 Through volunteer labour, efficient management and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the home-owner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund, which is used to build more houses.

    Habitat for Humanity is not a give-away program. In addition to mortgage payments, each homeowner invests hundreds of hours of their own labour, called “sweat equity”, into the building of their house and the houses of others.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-does-habitat-for-humanity-work/feed/ 0     How is this a hand up, not a hand out? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-is-this-a-hand-up-not-a-hand-out/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-is-this-a-hand-up-not-a-hand-out/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:38:58 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=32 Habitat houses are sold to families, not given to them free of charge. In addition, families help to build their own home.

    By building homes at low cost, requiring very little or no down payment, and not charging interest on the mortgage, Habitat for Humanity is able to provide an opportunity, or a “hand up”, to buy a home for families that would not otherwise qualify for a conventional mortgage.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-is-this-a-hand-up-not-a-hand-out/feed/ 0     What is Habitat for Humanity? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-is-habitat-for-humanity/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-is-habitat-for-humanity/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:11:21 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=31 Habitat for Humanity is an independent, non-profit, ecumenical housing program dedicated to the elimination of poverty housing by building homes in partnership with families in need. The ministry of Habitat is to provide simple, decent, affordable housing to those who would not qualify or be able to afford a conventional mortgage. The Habitat program is about home ownership, a long-term solution designed to break the poverty cycle.

    (Answer from Habitat for Humanity Canada Website)

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-is-habitat-for-humanity/feed/ 0     How can I become a volunteer? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-can-i-become-a-volunteer/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-can-i-become-a-volunteer/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:30:11 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=30 There are many ways to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast… here’s just a few ideas:

    • Help the recycling team sort refundables in Sechelt or Gibsons on Tuesday or Friday mornings
    • help at the ReStore
    • use your skills to help build a home
    • help in various committee activities such as fundraising, volunteer co-ordination, etc.

    If you have skills and ideas to contribute, we want you on our team!

    Please see our volunteer page for more current opportunities and information.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-can-i-become-a-volunteer/feed/ 0     What do families contribute and what do they receive in return? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-do-families-contribute-and-what-do-they-receive-in-return/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-do-families-contribute-and-what-do-they-receive-in-return/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:00:22 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=28 In addition to mortgage payments, each homeowner invests at least 500 hours of their time to assist in the building of their home, or to otherwise assist their affiliate (fund-raising or office work for example). In return, Habitat homeowners are given the unique opportunity to buy a home through an interest-free mortgage, thus gaining substantial equity they would not have if renting. They also acquire a safe, affordable place to live and the pride of ownership.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/what-do-families-contribute-and-what-do-they-receive-in-return/feed/ 0     How does Habitat acquire land? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-does-habitat-acquire-land/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-does-habitat-acquire-land/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:59:52 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=27 Acquiring affordable land is one of Habitat for Humanity’s greatest challenges. Habitat seeks the assistance of governments at all levels in acquiring suitable donated or cost-reduced land. Habitat also relies on individual donors for land donations. In many cases affiliates must purchase land.

    ]]>     http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-does-habitat-acquire-land/feed/ 0     How are homes funded? http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-are-homes-funded/ http://habitatsc.ca/common-questions/how-are-homes-funded/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:57:26 +0000 Website Admin http://habitatsc.ca/wp/?p=26 Habitat builds homes with volunteer labour and as much donated or cost-reduced material as possible. Fundraising takes place to help offset expenses of materials, services and land when they are not available through donations. Financial support is received from individuals, corporations, service groups and the faith community.

    Mortgage payments from current homeowners are retained by the affiliate, which holds the mortgages, to fund future projects.

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