What is Pensacola Habitat for Humanity?

• Founded in 1981
• 575 new homes built to date
• 2,400 people housed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties

• Volunteer labor
• Homes sold at cost with no-interest mortgage
• Partner families provide "sweat-equity" labor by working on their own home and homes of others

Pensacola Habitat is not a giveaway program. Habitat builds houses in partnership with low and very low income families in need of decent shelter. To keep the cost of our houses affordable, Habitat uses the labor of thousands of volunteers. Habitat's partner families pay for their homes. A monthly payment for their no-interest mortgage averages $450 a month. Those payments are then used by the affiliate to purchase more land and construction materials. Partner families invest more than money, they offer their own labor - sweat equity - into building their own homes and the homes of others. Habitat houses are sold to qualified low and very income families at cost through no-interest mortgages. As home owners repay the mortgages, that money is used to buy more building materials to build more houses thereby creating a "revolving fund for humanity".

How are Habitat partner families selected?
Selection is based on:

• Need for decent housing
• Willingness to partner by providing sweat equity
• Ability to repay no-interest mortgage

How big is a Habitat house and how much does it cost to build one?

• 1,050 square feet finished space (3 BR)
• Three, four, or five bedrooms
• Average price is $64,000

Habitat's philosophy of providing simple, decent housing means that a typical three bedroom home has one bathroom and about 1,050 square feet. Carpeting and vinyl are installed, as are a stove and refrigerator. Houses do not have dishwashers, garbage disposals or garages. We work to keep the price of our homes low by utilizing donated land and construction materials, as well as volunteer labor. Our homes cost approximately $64,000 to build and that is the amount of the mortgage that partner families repay.

How can I become involved with Pensacola Habitat for Humanity?

• Volunteer for construction, office, or committee work
• Donate money, land or materials
• Invite a Habitat speaker to your church, civic meeting or office

Make a tax deductible contribution of land, construction materials or cash. Consult your financial advisor about the benefits of planned giving.