Frequently Asked Questions
Is Habitat a religious organization?
Who are the volunteers and how can I become involved?
Can I become a part of BAHfH if I am not a "builder"?
Has research been done on the benefits of homeownersip?
If I give to Habitat for Humanity, will my contribution be used to build homes in Vermont?
How can I donate to Habitat - helping to build locally and internationally?
How can I learn more about the need for affordable housing in Vermont?
Where are Habitat Homes Located in Vermont?
What is the impact of housing on the well-being of children?
Does affordable housing cause nearby property values to decline?
How Did Habitat start?
Originally, Habitat was started by millionaires Millard and Linda Fuller, who gave up their wealth to serve God and their fellow man! Visit Habitat for Humanity International for more information on Habitat's start and evolution.
Is Habitat a religious organization? All are welcome
Habitat is a faith based international organization that is made up of people from all religions, races, and diverse backgrounds. Habitat families are chosen without regard to their religion or race.
The Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity affiliate has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Who are the Volunteers and how can I become involved?
Our volunteers are people of all ages, skill-sets, backgrounds, and faiths who believe that all people deserve a decent home. We welcome anyone who will join us as a partner in our work.
You can support our efforts with your time, your talents, or with monetary donations. See our Volunteer page for more information.
Can I become a part of BAHfH if I am not a "builder"?
There is a lot of work that goes on besides building. We raise funds, publicize the need for affordable housing and our commitment to our area, select families, prepare refreshments for our builders, support new home owners with the responsibility of owning their first home, and there are active committees, including a Board of Directors. There is much that needs to be done behind the scenes. There is a role for everyone.
Has research been done on the benefits of homeownersip?
The national board of realtors published a study that confirms what we have seen in terms of the benefits of homownership for our family partners and especially upon their children.
Donald Haurin, professor of economics, finance and public policy, Ohio State University, has done considerable research on the benefits of homeownership. His conclusion is that "Homeownership is vital. There is self-reliance; there is security; there is pride that comes with ownership; there is prosperity for the family; there is stability of neighborhoods, and economic growth. Another positive outcome of homeownership, Haurin says, can be stronger neighborhoods because families feel more connected. Children have better academic performance because their housing situation is more stable, they miss fewer school days, and they can more easily establish a network of friends -- as opposed to their counterparts whose families are frequently moving and thus less likely to establish strong ties in a particular location. To download Haurin's lecture at no charge visit www.hfhu.org.
How are homeowners selected?
Applicants must meet three specific criteria to qualify for home ownership. Applications are reviewed by the Board of Directors, and are processed as home sites become available. See Apply for Ownership for application criteria.
If I give to Habitat for Humanity, will my contribution be used to build homes in Vermont?
There are two ways to insure that your gifts will be used to build homes locally. If you contribute to Habitat for Humanity and want your gift to be used in our part of Vermont, you need to designate this when you make your contribution. The simplest way is to contribute directly to our affiliate by mailing a check to Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1159, Manchester, VT 05254.
How are donations used?
Your gift is used as you specify. Unrestricted gifts are used where most needed. We have no paid employees and minimal administrative expenses. So, almost every dollar contributed is used for home building.
Visit Habitat for Humanity International for more information on how donations are used. Unless specifically requested by the donor, 10% of all cash contributions to our affiliate are tithed to Habitat International for use in another country. For the past several years, we have split our tithe between Uganda and India where we have personal contacts with affiliates. This past year we designated our tithe for Haiti. Learn more about Habitat's work in India. (This is a PDF document and will take a few minutes to load.) In April 2008, we received a factual report on the progress in Uganda. As of May 2013, we have made a total tithe contribution of $50,555 since we were founded, making it possible for 14.2 homes to be built in other countries. The current average cost for building a home internationally is $4,500.
Habitat for Humanity's tithe program is a fundamental part of our daily operations, woven into the fabric of our charity just like sweat equity and volunteer labor. Tithe monies are 100 percent designated toward global building, which ensures that affiliates worldwide, regardless of their national poverty or wealthy, can keep working toward the goal of eliminating poverty housing.
Habitat’s international programs continue to have faith that Habitat will meet its FY13 collective tithe goal of $14.8 million. As of the end of March 2013, the affiliate community has tithed $7,628,523.
The map to the left illustrates how all the affiliates are connected in helping each other through the tithe program.
- Since 1997, when our affiliate was founded, we have contributed $50,555.
- This money has paid for 14.2 homes in other countries.
- Our tithe has been split as follows:
- $3,850 to Africa/Middle East
- $7,700 to Central America
- $5,200 Global Mission Fund
- $4,155 to Haiti
- $11,664 to India
- $15,420 to Uganda
- $2,566 where needed
- In recent years, our tithe was split between Uganda and India because people involved with Habitat's work in Uganda and India have taken the initiative to visit with members of our affiliate in Vermont. We enjoyed having the personal connection. Our Board of Directors designated our 2011 tithe to support Habitat's work in Haiti and currently has asked Habitat to utilize the funds where needed the most.
Some facts - it does not take much to have a measurable impact...
- $5 Buys a bag of cement in Vietnam
- $20 Pays for a toilet in Egypt
- $50 Provides drinkable water to a village family in Tajikistan
- $100 Funds the electricity for a home in Guatemala
- $150 Provides cement floors for a three-bedroom house in Lujan, Argentina
- $300 Funds all of the walls in a home in Ghana
- $400 Pays for a tin roof in Haiti
- $500 Provides a heating system in bitter cold Kyrgyzstan
- $800 Paints 16 homes in the Philippines
- $1,000 Funds the kitchen of a home in Paraguay
The need for decent affordable shelter is a universal challenge. When we share financial resources as well as operational knowledge, we all get closer to our goal of eliminating substandard housing. Habitat affiliates are called to tithe at least 10 percent of undesignated cash revenues outside of our country/area office.
We received a Christmas card in December 2008 from Uganda thanking us for our tithe. They stated that
- 4,700 families
- 28,000 individuals
- Over 10,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
live in Simple, Decent Habitat built shelter!
How can I learn more about the need for affordable housing in Vermont? A good place to start is to read "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" revised in March 2011. Vermont’s housing development network is strong and effective, a model for other parts of the U.S. There is a wealth of information about Vermont’s housing environment and steps being taken to address our housing shortage online. A few of the Vermont housing websites include:
• Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign (www.housingawareness.org)
• Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (www.vhcb.org)
• Vermont Housing Data, comprehensive statistical information regarding housing costs, housing supply, and ability to afford housing (www.housingdata.org)
• Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which includes the Vermont housing needs assessment (www.dhca.state.vt.us)
• Vermont Housing Finance Agency (www.vhfa.org)
• Vermont State Housing Authority (www.vsha.org)
• Housing Vermont (www.hvt.org)
• Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies
(www.vapda.org)
• Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness (www.helpingtohouse.org)
Where are Habitat Homes Located in Vermont?
There are eight Vermont affiliates. As of December 31, 2009, Vermont affiliates had built 135 homes. To learn more about Vermont affiliates and their cumulative impact on housing in Vermont. Please click Vermont Affiliates.
Back to top
What is the impact of housing on the well being of children?
Click here to download a PDF report. This will take a few minutes, but it is worth reading. Please wait for it to download.
Back to top
Does affordable housing cause nearby property values to decline?
Click here to download a PDF report. This will take a few minutes, but it is worth reading. Please wait for it to download.