Green Home Design Team

SAN DIEGO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

San Diego Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit corporation that provides homes to low income families through donations and volunteer help. Habitat for Humanity builds “simple & decent” affordable homes. They then sell those homes to hardworking families at no profit and with interest-free financing. Families contribute “sweat equity” toward the purchase of their home. Homeowner selection is a process that seeks homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the zero percent interest loans. Habitat uses volunteer labor to contain costs and partners with hardworking families with annual incomes typically in the very low income bracket. Funding for the houses comes from several sources: mortgage payments from Habitat Partner Families, house sponsors and corporate donors, grants, individual donations, and donated or discounted building supplies.

“Simple and Decent” constitute the guiding principles in all aspects of their mission. When specific guidance on a particular area is not provided, the decision should be for the alternative that is 1) low cost, 2) volunteer friendly, and 3) low or no maintenance. Low cost does not mean low quality. Habitat attempts to get building supplies and materials that have been donated or deeply discounted. Low cost also includes the long-term cost, which sometimes uses a higher quality fixture or building component during initial construction in order to reduce placement or repair costs during the term. Volunteer friendly refers to construction materials that can be installed by volunteers. Low or no maintenance refers to using designs and building materials that will reduce maintenance cost for the home owner. Habitat for Humanity has a specific design criterion that they employ during construction for both the interior and exterior of the home.

For more information, visit their website here.