Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland

Habitat for Humanity's mission is to provide simple, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with God's people in need.

Description:
By utilizing volunteer labor, along with donated land and materials whenever possible, Habitat can generally build a three-bedroom home for between $85,000 and $90,000, about half the value of the house. On a typical house there will about 400 volunteers sharing in the building of the house with the family. Each house is then sold to a qualifying family at cost by means of a no-interest 30-year mortgage. Recipient families are chosen on the basis of need and ability to make mortgage payments. The selection process is completely non-discriminatory.
However, each recipient family must put in a minimum of 350 hours of “sweat equity”, i.e., personal effort on the project, in order to qualify to purchase a Habitat home.

Mortgage payments coming to Habitat are “recycled” into new Habitat projects. This means that funds donated to Habitat have a multiplier effect and end up being used over and over again through our revolving loan fund.

History:
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland was founded in 1985 by small group of concerned citizens living in the Portland area. By the spring of 2006, we will have completed 41 houses working in partnership with local communities.

Contact people:

Kate Callahan, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email) Amy Dowler, Executive Assistant, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (207) 772-8113

Address:

83A Bell St Portland, ME 04103 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.habitatportlandme.org

Directions:

We are located off 302 near Morrill's Corner in Portland. From 295 take Forest ave/302 North for about 2.5 miles. Make a right onto Morrill St. (just past Susan's Fish and Chips) then make a right onto Bell. . . (more) For maps or information, please see http://www.portlandmaine.worldweb.com/Transportation/PublicTransit

Miscellaneous Information

This agency has United Way funded programs
	No
The agency places volunteers in these categories:
	Families, ages 5 - 10, ages 11 -15, ages 15 - 18, Physically disabled, Court Mandated, Groups, Adults

Last updated on November 5, 2009