Resources
Fact Sheet - Helping Australian Families in Need
What is Habitat for Humanity Australia?
Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit organisation which partners with low income families to build simple, decent and affordable homes. Its mission is to eliminate unsafe and inadequate housing from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Habitat for Humanity Australia was established in 1988 and last year built more than 500 houses in Australia and its Pacific neighbours. It has provided home ownership to families in need through its network of affiliates located in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
Houses are financed through minimal interest mortgages partnering low income families. The houses are built with financial support from individuals, businesses and community groups. Under supervision, volunteers work on the construction of the homes alongside the partner families who each contribute at least 500 hours in "sweat equity" on a Habitat build.
Using a non-discriminatory selection process, Habitat’s partner families are chosen by their local community according to their need, their ability to repay a low interest mortgage and their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity.
Partnering families also undertake training in basic home maintenance and household financial management to help them on their way to successful homeownership. In this way, partnering families are given a hand up, not a hand out.
Habitat for Humanity Australia in partnership with its cornerstone sponsor, QBE LMI (formerly PMI Mortgage Insurance), won the 2005 Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships in the medium business category.
Helping International Communities
Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses globally, providing more than 1.5 million people in over 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. On average, a new Habitat for Humanity home is completed somewhere in the world every 24 minutes.
Habitat for Humanity also helps rebuild disaster affected communities around the world. It is one of the largest non-government builders of long-term housing following the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the recent earthquakes in Pakistan and Yogyakarta.
Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Program provides volunteers a unique opportunity to become active partners with people of another culture. Team members work alongside members of the host community building decent, affordable housing worldwide.
Habitat for Humanity Australia coordinates teams travelling to countries in the Asia Pacific such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and East Timor to build affordable homes for low income families in need. Participants fund their own costs plus a donation to the host country.
Numbers, numbers, numbers and Habitat
Global Statistics:
- Habitat for Humanity helped some 41,000 families with better homes in the 12-months to 30th June 2007
- If you assume an average of five people per family, Habitat for Humanity helped more than 200,000 people transform their lives in the 12-months to 30th June 2007.
- Every day over the past year 112 families around world had a better home thanks to Habitat for Humanity, its volunteers and partners.
- Every 24 minutes a family somewhere in the world has a better home thanks to Habitat for Humanity, its volunteers and partners.
Habitat in the Asia-Pacific Region:
- Habitat for Humanity helped some 24,000 families with better homes in the 12-months to 30th June 2007.
- If you assume an average of five people per family, Habitat for Humanity helped an estimated 120,000 people transform their lives in the 12-months to 30th June 2007.
- Every day over the past year 65 families around the Asia-Pacific region had a better home thanks to Habitat for Humanity, its volunteers and partners.
- Every 24 minutes a family somewhere in the Asia-Pacific region has a better home thanks to Habitat for Humanity, its volunteers and partners.
How can you volunteer or make a donation to Habitat for Humanity?
Credit card donations can be made by calling 1800 88 55 99, through the website at or by sending a cheque to:
Habitat for Humanity Australia
PO Box 1048, North Sydney NSW 2059.
Donations are tax-deductible. Local and international volunteer opportunities are available for willing participants as well as trade professionals.
To volunteer or for more information please call (02) 9919 7000 or email info@habitat.org.au
How can I get more information?
For additional information, see the other sections of this Web site, see our contact information page, or write or phone our National Office:
Habitat for Humanity Australia
Level 9, 20 Berry St,
North Sydney NSW 2059
+61 (0) 2 9919 7000
Habitat for Humanity is a hand up, not a hand out, for families in need
