Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge works in partnership with God, the community, and people in need by building and renovating homes to make affordable housing a matter of conscience and action.

How did it all start?
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller and is headquartered in Americus, Georgia. The Greater Baton Rouge affiliate of HFHI was founded in 1989. Affiliates are local 501(c)(3) organizations of HFHI that direct house-building work in their own communities. There are over 1,700 U.S. affiliates in all 50 states, plus more than 550 international affiliates building in 3,000 communities around the world. Since 1976 HFHI has completed over 200,000 homes worldwide. HFHGBR has completed almost 200 houses since 1989. Affiliates raise their own funds to build homes.

What areas are served?
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge is chartered to serve an eight-parish area including East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Point Coupee, East and West Feliciana, Livingston, and Ascension. To date, we have completed homes in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension Livingston and Iberville.

Who manages Habitat?
There are fifteen members of the Board of Directors, representing many different professional areas and each committed to the mission of Habitat. A professional staff manages the daily operations of the affiliate.

How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates safe, affordable houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses and further the mission of the affiliate.

A 'Hand Up'-Not a 'Hand Out'
Habitat is not a give-away program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, each homeowner family invests at least 350 hours of their own labor ("sweat equity") into the building of their home, the homes of others, and other HFHGBR activities.

How does the government work with Habitat?
Habitat does not accept government funds for the construction of new houses or the renovation of existing houses. Habitat does accept government funds for the acquisition of land or houses in need of rehabilitation. Habitat also accepts government funds for streets, utilities, and administrative expenses, as long as the funds have no strings attached that would violate Habitat's principles.

How does Habitat fund its building and program activity?
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge invites individuals, corporations, foundations, religious congregations, or other organizations to "adopt" or sponsor a Habitat home for families in need and to contribute to overall building and program activity. Through this partnership, sponsors supply funds to cover the cost of materials, construction costs, and other fees and taxes. They also provide volunteers to work side by side with the homeowner family and with other Habitat volunteers, skilled and unskilled. Grants supply some income, usually for specific projects. The single largest source of funds comes from homeowners' payments. House notes go into a fund - Fund for Humanity- that is used to further the mission of eliminating substandard housing.

The Baton Rouge Habitat Tithe
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge contributes a percentage to Habitat International for international housing needs each time a Baton Rouge home is completed. The tithe from Baton Rouge has been designated to be used for building habitat homes in the Honduras.