Habitat For Humanity International Inc

Causes: Christianity, Homeless & Housing, Housing Development, Construction & Management, Religion

Mission: Greater lycoming habitat for humanity works with low to moderate income residents of lycoming, bradford, tioga, and eastern clinton counties to promote, educate about, assist with and advocate for safe, decent, affordable housing. We manage residential construction and home preservation programs as well as operate a store that sells new and used building components to support the activity of the habitat affiliate.

Programs: Habitat restore - habitat's restore is a retail operation managed by habitat staff that operates entirely to provide a revenue stream to the greater lycoming habitat for humanity (glhfh). The store sells new and used building components, hardware, furniture and household goods at 25%-75% of retail price to the local community. Volunteers and community service workers make up the bulk of the support staff in this program. Due to restore sales and recycling programs, tons of resusable materials are kept out of the landfill annually.

home ownership/construction program - glhfh builds home for low to moderate income families, using mostly volunteer labor and donated or reduced-cost materials. Interested family partners must apply and proceed through a qaulification process for a 0% interest mortgage. Glhfh holds and services (in cooperation with woodlands bank) the mortages and works with the families throughout the course of their loan to keep them, current on their mortgages, taxes and insurance. Qaulified selected families must also contribute 250 hours of "sweat equity" through hands on work during the home build phase. Depending on what land is availible and what the neighborhood guidelines are for new home construction, glhfh homes are typically two stories, include 3-4 bedrooms, and have 1200-1600 sq. Ft. Of living space. The main considerations for a habitat home are safe, affordable, sustainable, and simple. A professionally-trained and licensed project manager is hired to oversee the construction from start to finish, and professional subcontractors are used for specialty jobs requiring trained and skilled labor. Most other labor is donated to the project through volunteers from the local community. Funding for construction is typically secured from the local sources such as foundations, businesses, local/state government grants and fundraising activities. Many businesses and organizations donated time, products and services to help keep the cost of construction at a minimum.

volunteer services - glhfh recruits, trains and manages volunteers for all of its programs and services. Students, student groups, retirees, americorp members, business groups, church groups, communuty organizations, individuals seeking community service opportunities are all utilized to help glhfh meet its mission. All participants are interviewed, matched with an opportunity that fits their needs and abilities, trained and managed by glhfh staff.