Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity has built 158 houses since 1988
Organization
Foundation
Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1988 by Dwight Bingham, Uel & Vernie Blank, John McClure, Lee Norbury, and Mel West.
Our Mission
Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Our Vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our principles
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Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.
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Focus on shelter.
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Advocate for affordable housing.
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Promote dignity and hope.
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Support sustainable and transformative development.
Who we are
Habitat for Humanity partners with people in our community, and all over the world, to help them build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an interest free mortgage. With your support, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families. Through our 2020 Strategic Plan, Habitat for Humanity will serve more people than ever before through decent and affordable housing.
Non-proselytizing policy
Habitat for Humanity and its affiliate organizations will not proselytize. Nor will Habitat work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with Habitat. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Board Members
David Butcher - President
Shelly Devore- Secretary
Eddie Berendzen
Steve Povinelli
Phebe Lamar - Vice President
Ray Anderson
Chris Widmer
Steve Gaddy
Thomas Leuther
Velma Dykstra
John Muellete
Ken Caspall
Lisa Evans
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Home Owners
Every day, more and more families find themselves in a struggle to keep a decent roof over their heads. Unpredictable rent increases, overcrowded living conditions, damaged or dilapidated structures, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of access to land and affordable financing are just a few of the kinds of housing needs that families face. And those needs lead to instability, uncertainty, stress and fear.
There is no typical Habitat family. The families who partner with us to build and improve places to call home come from a variety of backgrounds and are selected at a local level. We partner with teachers, musicians, pastors, office workers and more. The basis for a family's selection is their level of need for better housing, their willingness to partner with us and work alongside volunteers, and their ability to pay an affordable mortgage.
Habitat homeowners play a hands-on role in eliminating those barriers, beginning with the sweat equity hours they perform. With the help of volunteers, they build and renovate the places they will call home. All of them are proactive not passive, investing not receiving. They are seizing an opportunity, and - with a hand up - they are changing their own futures.
Habitat and the families who partner with us understand that a home is a far-reaching investment. A home is a strong foundation on which the families who partner with Habitat can grow and thrive.
Common Myths
Habitat for Humanity gives houses to poor people
Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with those in need and then sells the houses to homeowner partners. Because of habitat's no-profit, no-interest loans, and because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments can be kept reasonable to those unable to obtain conventional financing for a home. Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 30-60% of the median income in the area. They are required to invest an average 250-300 hours of sweat equity - time spent building their own home or other Habitat homes.
Habitat homeowners are all on welfare
While some do receive public assistance, most homeowners work at low-wage jobs. Habitat for Humanity works in good faith with people who often are at risk in society. Home ownership can be an important first step toward helping people break out of the cycle of poverty.
You have to be a Christian to become a Habitat homeowner
Habitat for Humanity was founded as and remains a Christian ministry. In our believe that God's love extends to all and requirements of the law, homeowners are chosen without regard to race, creed, or nationality. We also welcome volunteers from all faiths, or no faith, who can actively embrace Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing around the world.
Habitat houses allow people to move from poverty to fancy new houses
Any newly built house is going to be a dramatic change for a family that has been living in substandard housing. However, Habitat houses are not extravagant by any standard. Habitat's philosophy is to build simple, decent homes. Under house design criteria approved by HFHI's board of directors, living space in a three bedroom home is approximately 1,050 square feet.
Habitat houses lower neighborhood property values
Many studies of low-cost housing show that affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values. In fact, Habitat for Humanity believes its approach to affordable housing can improve neighborhoods and communities by strengthening community spirit; increase the tax base; and building better citizens through the cooperative efforts involved in Habitat constructions.
Habitat for Humanity is a southern poverty program
Habitat for Humanity International started in the southern United States and remains based in Americas, GA. It is a global partnership, however, drawing families in need together with volunteers and resources to build simple, decent houses all over the world. Habitat currently has approved work in 89 countries.
Habitat for Humanity is an arm of the government
Habitat for Humanity International is an independent, nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. It is not an arm of the government, nor an arm of any particular church denomination. 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, so long as the funds have no strings attached that would limit its ability to build each Habitat house.
Habitat for Humanity was started by former US President Jimmy Carter
Habitat for Humanity was started in Americas, GA. in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife Linda. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn are longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national and international attention to the organization's house building work. They annually lead the Jimmy Carter Work Project to help raise not only houses, but also awareness of the need for affordable housing. Since Carter's first work projection in 1984, more than 1,000 houses have been built in conjunction with the special weeks.
Habitat for Humanity only builds in poor countries
Habitat operates through locally run affiliates, rather than through chapters controlled by the broader organization. Affiliates are grass-roots organizations of local people coming together to address local needs. As such, the affiliates are independent, nonprofit organizations that operate within specific service areas in convenient relationship with Habitat for Humanity International.
Poverty housing is such a large problem that it can never be solved
Poverty housing is a huge issue. Habitat believes the problem can be solved by working with other committed groups, and by putting the issue on the hearts and minds of compassionate people everywhere. Habitat's 21st Century Challenge calls on communities to eliminate substandard housing in their area within this generation.