Our Mission

As a Christian housing ministry, Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people of all faiths to make ownership of decent, affordable homes a matter of conscience and action.

History
Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all faiths and walks of life to work together in partnership, building houses with families in need.

Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County was founded in 1987 by local residents Alice and Wally Howard, Jim Leonard and Duke Shannahan.  Since then, our affiliate has built 53 homes locally and financed the building of 61 homes in Ghana West Africa through Habitat International's global building program.

How We Do it
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent homes with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat homes are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments come back to the affiliate to help us build more homes for more families.

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 Click here Homeownership Program page where you will find information on family partner requirements for our Habitat homes, as well as information on the application process.

Habitat and its Affiliates
Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use the Habitat for Humanity International affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in other areas.

Habitat is a grass-roots movement. Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form a Habitat affiliate in their community. Fundraising, home construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI headquarters, located in Americus, Ga., provides information, training, support and other services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

Donations
Donations are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by us that are designated to a specific building project or for a specific purpose are so directed. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed. Ten percent of all undesignated cash donations are tithed to support Habitat International's global building program. Our most recent audited financial statement is available upon request.

Management
Our board of directors determines policy and monitors operations of the affiliate. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing in our community. We operate with a small staff supported by long-term and short-term volunteers.