About Us

Our Mission:


Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.


Our Vision:


A world where everyone has a decent place to live.


About Habitat for Humanity

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 as a grassroots Christian nonprofit organization (read our non proselytizing policy) dedicated to the elimination of poverty and substandard housing worldwide. View the Habitat for Humanity International history. Habitat builds houses in partnership with families who qualify for home ownership based on three criteria: need, willingness to partner with Habitat and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries and all 50 states. Since 1981 Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West has built over 265 affordable new homes with low-income families across western St. Tammany parish. Affordable housing changes lives, you can make a difference in the lives of our home buyers by donating or volunteering.
Keep up to date with our activities by signing up for our newsletter!


How Do We Build Homes?

  • Funding is provided by generous tax-deductible donations of money and materials. Funds also come from mortgage payments of Habitat homeowners, grants and ReStore proceeds.
  • Habitat relies on volunteer labor and sweat equity hours completed by homeowners to construct houses.
  • Homes are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable no-interest loans. This is part of the "revolving fund" of Habitat, with mortgage payments going toward construction of more homes in the area.
  • Habitours are available for those who are interested. A Habitour is a 1-hour guided tour of West St. Tammany neighborhoods in which HFHSTW has had a significant impact. Tours are free and open to the public. Contact Leighanne Weeks at (985) 893-3172 ext 244 for more information.

Homeowner Selection

  • Successful applicants must meet housing need, ability to pay and willingness to partner criteria.
  • Staff members work with applicants to evaluate their ability to pay their affordable mortgage. Credit and budget counseling, as well as Financial Fitness and Homebuyer workshops, are available.
  • Members of the affiliate's Homeowner Selection Committee conduct a home visit to evaluate housing need and "willingness to partner".
  • The affiliate follows a non-discriminatory policy in homeowner selection. We comply with Fair Housing and Equal Credit Opportunity Acts, which prohibit discrimination based on a wide variety of factors including but not limited to race, religion, age, disability, and familial status.
  • To learn more about the Homeowner Selection process and how to apply with Habitat STW, visit our Own A Home page.

Funding

Equal Housing Opportunity
Own A Home
Donate
Volunteer