What is Habitat?
Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat has built approximately 300,000 houses around the world, providing over 100,000 people with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

OurMission Habitat for Humanity for San Luis Obispo County is an ecumenical Christian organization comprised of individuals, churches, businesses and organizations, without reference to race, creed or religious affiliation, committed to eradicating poverty housing from San Luis Obispo County.   501(c) 3 Non-Profit EIN #77-0434147

How Habitat Works
Using volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of future homeowners, our Family Partners. Houses are sold to Family Partners for no profit, financed through affordable, no-interest mortgages. Mortgages are issued over a fixed period, usually 20- 30 years. Monthly mortgage payments are used to support the construction of more houses through the revolving Fund for Humanity.

Costs of houses differ relative to location and costs of labor, land and materials. The average cost to build a Habitat house in the U.S. is currently $47,000, excluding land. The cost of a Habitat house in San Luis Obispo County is approximately $120,000, excluding land.

People-to-People Partnership
The focus of Habitat's ministry is not simply the construction of houses, but the development and empowerment of people and communities. Habitat is interested in the people involved in its ministry, both the owners of Habitat houses and those involved with homeowners in the construction of those houses. Habitat seeks to break down communication barriers and form partnerships among people from all walks of life.

Ecumenical and Diverse Organization
The board of directors and all committees of the local Habitat affiliate must be ecumenical, a reflection of the diversity of denomination in the area. Also, while Habitat is certainly Christian, it welcomes board and committee members of any faith as long as they accept Habitat's mission, purpose and principles. The board and committees must reflect nationalities, occupations, income levels and age groups. Such diversity offers a wide range of experience and perspectives, and provides a strong base of operation. Committees include: Family Selection, Family Support, Development, Public Relations & Marketing, Building and Site Acquisition.

Habitat for Humanity, San Luis Obispo County
We became an official affiliate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1997. In 1998, we acquired our first property, in Paso Robles, through a Community Development Block Grant. We completed two homes in 2001 and one home in 2002. We completed our first home in Cambria in 2006 and four more homes in Atascadero in 2008.  We completed four homes in Grover Beach in December 2009.  Two homes in San Luis Obispo will begin in late summer, 2010.