Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in nearly 1,400 communities across the United States and in approximately 70 countries around the world. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with people and families in need of a decent and affordable home.

Learn more at habitat.org

People in your community and all over the world partner with Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Families in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity.

Each local Habitat’s family selection committee selects homeowners based on three criteria:

• The applicant’s level of need.
• Their willingness to partner with Habitat.
• Their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan.

As part of their willingness to partner, Habitat’s homebuyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowners.

Visit our Get Help page to learn more.

No. Habitat for Humanity structures home mortgages in the U.S. to help protect local housing markets. We do this by engaging a third-party, independent appraisal to evaluate and establish the fair market value of a home, which becomes the sales price. Any gap between the mortgage amount that is affordable for the homebuyer and the full fair market value of the housing unit is filled by various “soft” mortgages that may be forgiven over time.

Beaches Habitat for Humanity is a local Habitat for Humanity organization, or affiliate, serving the Jacksonville Beaches community.

Habitat for Humanity affiliates act in partnership with and on behalf of Habitat for Humanity International.

Each Habitat affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area.

There are many ways to volunteer.

• Build a home;
• Build relationships with your co-workers, congregation or friends through a group build day on our construction site;
• Volunteer long term through internship and AmeriCorps Service;
• and more...

Beaches Habitat, like all local Habitat organizations, depends on financial donations to fund our work. These donations help families build a place they can call home. Visit our Give Now page to learn more about how you can invest in the mission and vision of Beaches Habitat.

Many local Habitats have home improvement stores called Habitat ReStores, which sell reusable and surplus building materials, furniture and appliances to the public. Beaches Habitat does not have a Restore and is unable to accept most donations of material and building supplies, but we encourage you to  find a local Habitat ReStore.

Habitat for Humanity International asks legislators and housing regulators to increase support for affordable homeownership and decent housing.

Habitat monitors public policies related to housing, community and international development.

Habitat advocates for policies that will increase access to decent, affordable housing available to people around the world.

Habitat accepts government funds as long as they have no conditions that would violate our principles or limit our ability to proclaim our Christian identity.

Learn more about Habitat's advocacy efforts.

Yes, we are a global nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. All who desire to be a part of this work are welcome, regardless of religious preference or background. We have a policy of building with people in need regardless of race or religion. We welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds.

Learn more about Habitat’s history.