Health for Habitat is a partnership between Orange County Habitat for Humanity and SHAC. Each year for the past six years, Health for Habitat has paired with another community group (for example, a church or business group) to raise money, coordinate, and recruit workers for the construction of a Habitat house. Health for Habitat must raise $5000 of the total $25,000 cost per house; our partnership group is responsible for the rest. An additional sum ($25,000-$35,000) is supplied by donations from Orange County Habitat for Humanity.
The average sales price of a single-family home in Orange County has increased every year for the last several years. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department defines affordable housing as housing that costs no more than 250% of the family's annual income, and requires no more than 30% of the family's monthly income to be spent on mortage/rent and utilities.
Health for Habitat strives to:
• Build at least one house a year to benefit families of need in Orange County.
• Provide a means for students to donate their time and effort to a non-academic area
• Bring students from all of the UNC Health Affair Schools to serve to the community.
• Educate students about affordable housing and home safety.
Habitat for Humanity International brings volunteers, builders, and needy families together to build houses. Through generous donations and no-cost loans, Habitat for Humanity is able to provide financing for the houses while volunteers and the families themselves work to build them.
Please note that we will not be organizing trips for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year. If you are interested in building, check back here in late summer for the 2007-2008 schedule and volunteering information. If you want to build in the summer, visit the Orange County Habitat for Humanity website above for contact information for chapters around the state!