Habitat for Humanity: A Complete Guide

How many homeless people do you see on the news after a natural disaster or on the streets while you go to and from school? If you feel strongly about everyone deserving a safe, stable place they can finally call their own home, Habitat for Humanity may be the organization for you.

Habitat for Humanity empowers communities by building and renovating homes, transforming lives one family at a time. In this article, we’ll discuss what the organization does, how you can join, and why you should consider volunteering.

• What Is Habitat for Humanity?
• Habitat for Humanity Acceptance Rate
• Habitat for Humanity Application Deadline
• Habitat for Humanity Requirements
• How to Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
• Why Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity is a global Christian-affiliated non-profit housing organization dedicated to building safe, decent, and affordable homes for low-income families.

Millard and Linda Fuller’s concept for the organization began in Koinonia Farm in 1942, outside of Americus, Georgia. They developed the idea of “partnership housing,” where volunteers and those who needed good shelter worked together to build decent houses. The projects would be funded by “The Fund for Humanity,” consisting of:

• House payments by new homeowners
• No-interest loans from supporters
• Money earned through fundraising activities

In September 1976, Habitat for Humanity International was born, and in 1984, the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mission and scope

Habitat for Humanity’s core mission is to provide affordable homeownership opportunities to families who need them. It does this through a partnership model, where qualifying families agree to pay an affordable mortgage (at no profit to Habitat) and to invest “sweat equity” by helping build their own homes and others’.

The organization obtains donated or low-cost land and building materials, and then uses mostly volunteer labor to construct each house. Because volunteers donate much of the labor, Habitat for Humanity can sell homes at lower prices.

This model means Habitat pays it forward: mortgage payments from one home go toward funding the next home in the community.

Volunteer opportunities

Habitat for Humanity relies heavily on volunteers, and there’s a wide variety of roles available, often catering to different skill sets, time commitments, and interests. Specific opportunities can differ per local affiliate, but the main volunteer roles generally fall into these categories:

• Construction site volunteers. This is perhaps the most iconic way to volunteer with Habitat. No prior construction experience is typically required since skilled staff provide training and supervision. You’ll be doing general tasks like framing, roofing, drywall installation, painting, landscaping, and general site cleanup.
• ReStore volunteers. Habitat ReStores are retail outlets that sell donated new and gently used home improvement items. They’re important for fundraising and diverting waste from landfills. You may be involved in customer service, merchandising and display, donation processing, and warehouse support. If you have handy skills, you can repair and prepare donated items for sale (like furniture restoration and testing electrical equipment).
• Office and administrative volunteers. Not all volunteering involves manual labor. Behind-the-scenes support is also important for Habitat’s operations. For instance, you might do clerical tasks like filing, copying, answering phones, and general office support.
• Committee volunteers. Many Habitat affiliates also rely on committees made up of volunteers who lend their professional expertise to specific areas. You might be involved in providing financial oversight and guidance or assisting with fundraising strategies, donor relations, and grant writing.
• Advocacy volunteers. Habitat for Humanity advocates for policies that promote affordable housing and address systemic issues. As an advocacy volunteer, you might be asked to research housing issues and policies or represent Habitat at local government meetings or public forums.

The main Habitat for Humanity website has volunteer opportunities by category. For example, you can join the Habitat AmeriCorps through a paid service year, focusing on these areas:

• Economic opportunity
• Disaster response
• Education
• Healthy futures
• Veterans and military families

If you’re not sure how much time you can commit, Habitat also hosts build events regularly. Each event has a focus, and you can choose one that matches your interests. Some examples include:

• Beautification or renovation of homes/neighborhoods
• Green-building practices
• Women Build events
• Youth involvement activities
• Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project

Through all these projects and roles, Habitat brings together builders, future homeowners, and supporters in a spirit of cooperation and service. This makes volunteering with Habitat go beyond just building houses—it also becomes about building a better community for everyone.

Habitat for Humanity Acceptance Rate

Volunteering is generally open to anyone who meets the basic requirements. If you want to volunteer, you won’t face a hard quota since most affiliates welcome extra hands. However, if you’d like to join a certain project, we recommend checking its specifics.

Habitat for Humanity Application Deadline

You can start volunteering at Habitat for Humanity at any time of the year. Certain projects like Collegiate Challenge trips may have deadlines closer to the trip dates, but if you only plan on volunteering in local construction sites or ReStores, you can do so at any time.

Habitat for Humanity Requirements

Each Habitat for Humanity organization may have its own specific set of criteria to volunteer for different roles, but here are the general requirements:

Eligibility

To be eligible for being a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, you should generally be physically able to work in a construction environment and be at least 16 years old. Some projects may require you to be over 18.

Required documents

Habitat for Humanity volunteers usually need minimal paperwork—usually just a signed liability waiver (especially for minors) and a registration form. Volunteers under 18 should specifically have a parent-signed consent form.

Program cost

Applying to be a Habitat for Humanity volunteer is free since the organization covers all project costs through donations and fundraising.

However, some special Habitat programs have fees. For instance, Habitat Global Village trips (short-term volunteer builds abroad) charge participants to cover lodging, meals, local transportation, and a donation to Habitat in the host country. However, Habitat doesn’t expect you to shoulder these expenses out of pocket. Instead, you can host fundraising events for them.

How to Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

Interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity? Try to check if your school has its own chapter. If there’s none, you choose to establish a campus chapter. You should work with your local Habitat to help you establish it and set goals for the year.

Alternatively, you can also bypass your campus chapter and apply to the national organization. Here’s how:

Step 1: Find a local habitat affiliate.

Use the Habitat for Humanity website or search online to look for your nearest affiliate. Each community has its own chapter and website where you can find its contact details or read about upcoming projects and volunteer opportunities.

Step 2: Register or apply.

Most affiliates have an online signup form or portal. You may need to create an account on the affiliate’s volunteer platform and sign a liability waiver. If you’re under 18, be prepared to include a parent’s signature and possibly volunteer with an adult chaperone.

The main Habitat for Humanity website also lists volunteer opportunities that may have separate application forms.

Step 3: Complete orientation/training.

Many Habitat affiliates require first-time volunteers to attend a short orientation or safety training before going to the construction site. Some chapters offer online safety videos or in-person meetings. These orientations cover basic safety rules, building skills, and what to expect on a Habitat site.

Step 4: Start volunteering.

Once registered and trained, you can sign up for build days, ReStore shifts, or other Habitat events. Affiliates often post volunteer calendars online. On build days, experienced crew leaders will guide you in tasks like hammering nails, painting, or digging.

High school groups often volunteer together, so you might join a Campus Chapter build day with classmates or lend a hand at a weekend family build. Over time, you can take on different roles or even help train new volunteers.

Step 5: Follow up.

Stay in touch with the affiliate. Many have email newsletters or volunteer coordinators who notify volunteers of new projects. You may be invited back or even asked to become a youth coordinator or leader in the future.

Why Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity?

Being a Habitat for Humanity volunteer requires some considerable time and effort. However, there are many benefits to being part of the organization, such as:

1. Learn new skills.

Being a Habitat for Humanity volunteer is a hands-on way to learn trades like carpentry, painting, plumbing basics and gain real experience. You’ll also learn soft skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.

For high school students, volunteer experience (especially with a reputable organization like Habitat for Humanity) can significantly strengthen college applications and future job resumes since it shows initiative, commitment, and a strong work ethic.

2. Meet new people.

Habitat for Humanity projects are all about teamwork, where you and other volunteers work together toward a common goal. You can start a project as complete strangers, but after some time hammering nails side-by-side or cleaning up a site together, you’ll befriend volunteers from different ages and backgrounds to form tight-knit crews.

3. Make a tangible difference.

Few experiences are as rewarding as seeing the finished house you helped build. Being a Habitat for Humanity volunteer at the construction site means you get to see the immediate impact of your work: a safe, new home for a local family!

Volunteering at Habitat ReStores also lets you make a tangible difference. You may not see houses get built before your very eyes, but you know that tasks like stocking store shelves, pricing the inventory, and organizing the ReStore and warehouse help you support homebuilding and repair projects.

4. Foster empathy and social awareness.

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity directly exposes students to the issue of affordable housing and the challenges faced by families in their community, building a deeper understanding of societal issues.

You can also expect to work alongside people from different backgrounds and walks of life, including the future homeowners. This interaction helps promote empathy, breaks down stereotypes, and broadens your worldview.

5. Personal growth.

Contributing to a meaningful cause and learning new skills can significantly boost your confidence and self-worth. Volunteering, in general, can also help you discover a sense of purpose and the joy that comes from helping others.

As you continue to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, you can build experience that will let you lead campus projects or fundraising events for the organization later on.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity?

To volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, simply contact your local Habitat affiliate (often via the Habitat website) and sign up. Most affiliates have an online form where you enter your information and available dates.

2. How old do you have to be to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity?

You must generally be at least 16 years old to volunteer on construction sites or in Habitat ReStores. Many affiliates allow 16- to 17-year-olds to help if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian and have a signed waiver.  For younger teens (under 16), some Habitat chapters offer special “Family Build” days where minors work with adult family members.

3. How many Habitat for Humanity organizations are there in the US?

There are over 1,500 local Habitat for Humanity affiliates across all 50 U.S. states. Each affiliate is a separate nonprofit that organizes home builds and volunteer opportunities in its region.

Takeaways

• Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization that brings together volunteers and future homeowners to build affordable houses.
• There are many ways to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the most iconic one being part of the construction. However, you can also be involved in ReStores, and administrative tasks.
• Joining Habitat projects is typically as easy as just applying, but you should generally be older than 16 years old. Check the specific project you’re interested in to look at the requirements.
• There are many benefits to being part of Habitat for Humanity, such as learning new skills, meeting new people, making a tangible difference, fostering empathy and social awareness, and experiencing personal growth.
• Colleges like applicants who make an impact on communities. Get your profile evaluated and see how else you can engage with more communities you care about.