Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge, Inc. serves an eight parish area including East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Point Coupee, East and West Feliciana, Livingston and Ascension.  Work started in 1988 through an initiative of the Greater Baton Rouge Federation of Churches and Synagogues.  In 1989, HFHGBR affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International.  Since affiliation, HFHGBR has completed about 200 homes - 168 new construction and 31 major renovations in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston and Ascension.

Most of the Habitat homes in Greater Baton Rouge are clustered in 12 areas (Zion City, Joseph St., Delmont Place, Istrouma, Gayosa and Central Baton Rouge, Bartlett Place, Burbank/Crosscreek, Faith Court, Valley Park, Plaquemine, Port Allen, and Gonzalez).  

An extremely important milestone in our 17-year history was the 150th Habitat home built in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Construction on the Fort St. home was completed in June 2006.

HFHGBR also became involved in a new Habitat International initiative in 2003. We were asked to participate in the first year of the Martin Luther King, Jr. "Building on the Dream" initiative. This initiative is an effort to unite churches, faith-based communities and people from all walks of life to help break the cycle of poverty and low self-esteem.

Habitat of Greater Baton Rouge joined with habitat for Humanity International in responding to the devastation of HUrricanes Katrina and Rita.  We increased our building capacity substancially by building 46 homes in 2006 -- 20 for local folks and 26 for hurricane imacted families who had chosen to make Baton Rouge their home.

Of the 200 homes constructed since 1989, the affiliate has had only one foreclosure. We attribute this success rate to our aggressive, volunteer-driven family selection, education, and support program. All homeowners are required to invest their time in homeowner education and financial management classes prior to entering the ownership tract.