Whether they are built from scratch or renovated, Habitat for Humanity homes are exactly what struggling families need to live comfortably and happily. Regardless of where a Habitat for Humanity team decides to build, every house is made of high quality materials and built to withstand its harsh environment.  Simplicity is vital to building a Habitat home, as the houses are made to comfortably support a family, while simultaneously keeping building costs at a minimum.

One of the most important considerations when building Habitat for Humanity homes concerns the concept of affordability.  Not only must these homes have affordable building costs, but they must also be affordable for the families who occupy them. Habitat homes are not simply given away; rather they are built with high quality materials donated by businesses and/or volunteers who want to help hard-working, low-income members of their community.

Depending on the construction location, Habitat homes are usually built using wood framing, vinyl siding, Hardi Plank siding, stucco, and asphalt roofs.  However, there are guidelines and building codes to follow which can dictate how large and what materials can be used with any given Habitat home.  Disabled individuals who receive a Habitat home will have necessary additions built onto the house for them.  Such additions may include wheelchair ramps and wider doors. Essentially, the program will accommodate any and all hardworking candidates.

The program considers itself energy efficient, as its members take steps to make sure to reuse and recycle building materials. At each site, builders are required to have an area for recyclable materials.  After a job is completed, the program will sell the leftover materials to the general public at a reduced rate.  During this process, each Habitat has a “reStore” department in which the materials are sold.   The proceeds from leftover materials go directly back into the Habitat for Humanity program. In addition to selling leftover materials, a “reStore” will sell furniture and other goods, which have been donated by the general public, other members, volunteers, or businesses throughout the community.

The program also has a trained resource department which helps to supervise and organize construction.  This way, the amount of wasted resources and energy can be kept to a minimum, and homes can be built more efficiently and effectively. When steps are taken to reduce building costs, the program is then able to build more homes with the resources supplied to them.

Ultimately, many components come together to build a Habitat home.  A delicate balance of construction volunteers, organizational departments, donors, and hard-working, underprivileged citizens come together to create a beautiful example of human kindness.  One might even argue that Love is the most important component in this complex equation and demonstration of human compassion. Although the Habitat program is technically a non-profit organization, you might find that many of the people involved in the program have “profited” in countless magnificent ways.