Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity

The mission of Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity is to work in partnership with God and people everywhere from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God's love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to our partner families at no profit and are financed with affordable loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments go into a Revolving Fund for Humanity which is used to build Habitat houses for future partner families. Habitat for Humanity is said to provide "a hand up, not a hand out" to those in need of affordable, decent housing. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

There are six foundational principles that guide our work:

• Habitat is based upon the teachings of Jesus. While Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization, anyone who is committed to its mission, purposes and principles is invited to participate in our organization.

• Habitat for Humanity is a people-to-people partnership drawing together individuals and communities to build decent, affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity is committed to the development and uplifting of people and communities, not only to the development of housing.

• Habitat for Humanity builds decent and affordable housing in partnership with people who are living in inadequate housing and who are unable to secure adequate housing by conventional means. Habitat selects homeowner-partners based on their need for adequate shelter; their ability to pay for the Habitat home; and their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat does not discriminate in the selection of homeowner-partners on the basis of race, creed, gender, disability, ethnic background, or any other characteristic protected by law.

• Habitat for Humanity sells all housing units to homeowner-partners with no profit added by means of subsidized or zero interest loans. House payments are used for the construction of additional affordable housing.

• Habitat for Humanity is a global movement comprised of Habitat for Humanity International and national and local affiliated organizations around the world.

• The need for decent and affordable housing is a worldwide challenge, and Habitat for Humanity is a global partnership response. Habitat for Humanity commits to providing significant financial support of house-building efforts in other countries through participating in the affiliate tithe program.