Habitat Myths

Habitat for Humanity’s model isn’t based on giving houses away; rather, we want to provide affordable housing in our communities. As part of the application process, homeowners submit employment information, and if approved, their mortgage is set at no more than 1/3 of their monthly income. Closing costs are also required of the homeowner. Additionally, homeowners are actually out working on the jobsites! As part of the program, homeowners must complete partnership hours, which include budgeting classes, will and estate planning, home repair education, and yes, volunteering on job sites (both their own and those of other Habitat homeowners!)

Each Habitat for Humanity is its own affiliate, much the same way as your favorite fast-food restaurant. While all affiliates have to follow guidelines and operating procedures that Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) sets, the leadership is different at each affiliate, as are the neighborhoods, floor plans, and more!

When Habitat for Humanity refers to a “family” in a home, that family has no minimum or maximum. Single people are just as welcome to apply as families of seven! No matter your age, relationship, or familial status, you can apply for homeownership through Habitat. Habitat homes are also ADA compliant, so if you have a disability or mobility challenge, you, too, should apply!

While there are certainly similarities in the homes built by each affiliate, not every house is the same. As with any contractor or builder, Cape Fear Habitat has blueprints of homes ranging between two and five bedrooms, and they are built to be ADA compliant. We have 8 floor plans for new homeowners to choose from, and we build efficiency cottages for Critical Home Repair clients whose homes cannot be repaired. Each Habitat affiliate has their own set of blueprints, as well. Some homes may look the same on the outside, but the interior blueprint is chosen by the homeowner, as is the color of the siding, the countertops, cabinets, and more. Homeowners can shop their preferences in our warehouse, where the Construction team takes note of their preferences and turns them into their dream home.

Cape Fear Habitat has a “land bank” of plots all over New Hanover, Pender, and Duplin counties. When a homeowner enters the program, they can choose the plot of land they most desire from the land bank. This way, their home is closest to work, or their children’s school, or family. The goal for Habitat homes is for them to be safe and affordable, but convenience sure doesn’t hurt!

A homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment is more than just a home payment. Homeowner payments include principal, or the amount owed on the home loan, in addition to homeowner insurance, property taxes, and any HOA dues, if applicable. Much like an advertisement for a cell phone company, there aren’t any hidden fees! (Except in this case, we’re serious).

Jimmy Carter has long been credited with starting Habitat for Humanity, but it was actually founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller from the concept of “partnership housing,” which contains the model of volunteers working alongside homeowners to build homes. Jimmy Carter got involved with Habitat in 1984; he and the late Mrs. Carter poured countless hours into the mission and inspired thousands of volunteers to get involved with Habitat builds. While he may not have founded Habitat, he certainly helped it become a household name.

Habitat for Humanity, while US-based, has affiliates worldwide—including all 50 US states (plus DC and Puerto Rico) and in approximately 70 countries. The beauty of Habitat is the dedication, worldwide, to providing safe and affordable housing.

Habitat homeowners enter a 12-18 month partnership when they “sign on the dotted line.” Construction doesn’t begin on their homes immediately; instead, homeowners start work on their 250-400 partnership hours, which include volunteering, homeownership education, and more. Habitat homeowners are resilient and hard-working, before, during, and after the homeownership program.

While Habitat for Humanity is certainly known for building houses, there’s more to it than that! Cape Fear Habitat has a Repair Program that serves individuals between 0-80% Area Median Income (AMI). Habitat also provides homeowner classes, consisting of anything from budgeting to home repair. The ReStores, too, are a part of Habitat, and help offset administrative costs.

The ReStores help offset administrative costs for their local Habitat affiliate. The furniture, decor, and appliances donated don’t go directly to a homeowner’s home—though they are welcome to shop in the stores! Instead, the donations are sold at significant discounts off retail, and the money cycles back into Habitat.

There are no home visits with Habitat! When you apply to the homeownership program, your living conditions may be taken into account, but we will never ask to visit your home.

Habitat is a complex organization; construction, finance, social services, volunteer management, retail management, fundraising, mortgage origination, and financial counseling are all pieces of the Habitat puzzle. Employees at Habitat are professionals with years of experience in a variety of different fields. Most of our employees work in the ReStores, though every department has been known to get out on-site and get their hands dirty!

While volunteers are a huge part of our success, we do have paid positions. Cape Fear Habitat has experienced significant growth since our founding in 1987, and we employ a full staff of 74 people to help manage Homeowner Services, Construction, Development, ReStores, and more. Size and employment numbers vary depending on an affiliate’s location and construction schedule, but there are paid positions in each affiliate.

Homeowner mortgages don’t go into a company’s pocket once they’re paid, but instead recycle back into the program. We call this a Neighborhood Sponsor: each homeowner’s mortgage payment finances another homeowner’s home. This is a never-ending process that embodies the community of Habitat, where each homeowner uplifts the ones that come after them. We’ve been around long enough to have numerous homeowners pay off their mortgages!