Marquette County HFH is not a charity or a give-away program. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with Marquette County families in need. Volunteer labor is used to build houses to keep building costs low. Partner families pay a down payment and a monthly mortgage payment. They also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, 'sweat equity,' into building their own houses and the houses of others. As Habitat homeowners pay their mortgages, the money goes into a revolving fund that helps build houses with other families.