Habitat for Humanity Hamilton

Bob McConkey and Cassandra Stewart from Habitat for Humanity, Hamilton, were today's guests. Bob spoke to us about how the organization was started in 1976 in the USA and has grown to include more than 100 countries. The Hamilton organization has been building homes since 1985. Habitat gets the land, material and labour donated and requires the family that will be receiving a house to work 500 hours as their contribution to the project. Habitat targets hard working low income families to receive a home and the organization holds a no interest mortage that is repaid based on the family's income. A committee visits the family once a year and if earnings are up then repayment of the mortgage goes up accordingly. Because the family does not pay more than 30% of its income towards the mortgage, there is more disposable money for food and the children's post secondary education. This year 4 houses will be built on the Robert Land School site with another four planned for next year. With every house build in Hamilton, $5000 is set aside for a house in a developing country. To pay for the administration of the program Habitat runs the ReStore which sells around $800 000 worth of donated house and content materials. The store is located at 285 Nash Road, Hamilton. Rotarians are encouraged to support Habitat for Humanity through monetary gifts, donations of used or new building materials for ReStore or even some hands on sweat equity.