Paterson Habitat for Humanity

Paterson Habitat for Humanity is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit, ecumenical housing ministry based in Americus, Georgia. There are 1,500 affiliates in the United States and over 200 affiliates overseas -- in Africa, India, Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The purpose of Habitat for Humanity is to remove poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by building basic but decent housing.

Habitat began in 1976, as founder Millard Fuller and his wife Linda left a life of material wealth to dedicate their lives to this housing ministry.

Regardless of the location, each affiliate operates under a basic set of covenants:

Homes are built "in partnership" by the homeowner families and volunteers. Each homeowner family must contribute 400 hours of sweat equity in the building of their home. Habitat provides a "hand up" not a "hand out".

Homes are sold at cost to selected, deserving families who are given a no-interest mortgage held by Habitat. Homeowner mortgage payments are "recycled" back into a Fund for Humanity which builds more homes. Approximately 20% of Paterson Habitat's operating revenue comes from mortgage payments.

In the selection of Habitat families, there is no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, family or marital status, or age. Our affiliate does, however, set its own family selection criteria. In Paterson, we require families to be legal residents of the U.S., employed making at least $39,000 a year. There is also a maximum income allowed per family size (based on HUD guidelines).

Only limited government funds may be used to build the homes. Habitat has always been a grass-roots ministry supported by churches, individuals and businesses.

Habitat for Humanity is one of the largest home builders in the United States. Since its founding, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 500,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2.5 million people.

Locally, the Paterson affiliate began in October 1984. We have built over 220 homes and helped more than 230 families.