Habitat Mission

Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio is an ecumenical Christian non-profit housing organization working in partnership with God’s people in need to build modest, decent and affordable houses without interest or profit, thereby witnessing God’s love in action. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

What Habitat Does

We Build for Better! Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio works with low-income families who would not otherwise be able to afford a home. We partner with hardworking families in need and help them build affordable homes for themselves and their families at no interest and no profit. We are not a charity or a “hand-out” program, but rather we help families help themselves.  We are a hand-up, not a hand-out!

What Woodland Does

Since 2004, Woodland has sponsored or co-sponsored 17 homes in partnership with families in need. Woodland provides funds via the budget and provides volunteers to help build each home. Our builds happen each year in the Fall—usually 8 consecutive Saturdays.

How Habitat for Humanity Meets The Need
Through Radical Common Sense

Radical

• The goal is radical — to eliminate poverty housing because every family, every person, should have, as a minimum, a simple, decent place to live

• The finance plan is radical — no profit, no interest. In the Western world, the best interest rate is charged to the wealthiest people and the highest interest rate to the poor. Habitat sells homes to qualifying poor families at cost and charges no interest on a 20 year mortgage. This is biblical.

• Habitat employs the “theology of the hammer” which teaches that true religion must be more than singing and talking. Action is required. “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” 1 John 3:19

Common Sense

• It is the very essence of common sense that people who get sleepy at night should have a good place in which to sleep on terms they can afford to pay.

• It is common sense that children, especially, should have decent housing, so they can grow up to be all that God intended.

• It is common sense that people of faith should work together to express God’s love in a program that is agreed upon.

• It is common sense that people should be helped in a way that does not foster dependency. That is why Habitat does not give away houses. That’s why prospective homeowners mustt be working and qualify for the potential mortgage payment and must put in 300 or more hours of “sweat equity” labor building their own house and houses for others. Then, when the house is finished, the family moves in and repays the no-interst montage over 20 years. Habitat offers a hand up, not a hand out. This program does not foster dependency.

• The mortgage payments received from the homeowners are used to build homes also. Twelve homes built by HFHSA in 2014 will be funded by mortgage payments.

More About Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio

• HFHSA is an ecumenical Christian non-profit housing organization working in partnership with God’s people in need to build simple, decent and affordable houses without interest or profit, thereby witnessing God’s love in action. Habitat was conceived by a Baptist theologian named Dr. Clarence Jordan. Churches of all Christian denominations are involved in sponsoring houses.

• HFHSA works with low-income families who would not otherwise be able to afford a house. HFHSA helps families help themselves. The families’ income is 25% to 60% of the area median income. No other organization in San Antonio works with families having income this low.

• More than 10,000 volunteers assist in various HFHSA activities each year.

• HFHSA has build over 850 homes in San Antonio.