About H4H

What is Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for humanity is an international grassroots non-profit organization founded in 1976 that seeks to eliminate substandard housing by addressing the need for simple, decent and affordable homes. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, established in 1984, is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.

What is UNC-CH Health for Habitat?

The partnership consists of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Schools of Pharmacy, Public Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Physical Therapy, Nursing, and Social Work, who have combined their efforts at working with the community. UNC Health for Habitat as well as a local community group, join efforts to raise $25,000 and provide much of the labor force. The additional $25,000 needed to construct the home will be provided by other donations through Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.

What is the purpose of UNC-CH Health for Habitat?

The purpose of UNC-CH Health for Habitat is to assist in providing safe and secure housing in order to promote happier and healthier lives.

Our objectives are:

To build one house a year to benefit the families in need of Orange County,
To bring together students from all of the UNC Health Affairs Schools in a service environment,
To provide a means for UNC Health Affairs students to donate their time in a non-academic area, and
To educate UNC Health Affairs students about low cost housing and home safety.

What is the problem of affordable housing?
As of 1998, the average sales price of a new and existing single family home in Orange County was $265,000 and $186,000 respectively. Monthy rental rates for two and three bedroom apartments average about $600-$700. Families would be required to spend between 5.5 and 7.8 times their annual wages to purchase a home and well over 30% of their gross monthly income to rent a home. US HUD standards define affordable housing as purchasable at 2.5 times the total family annual income. Affordable rentals require a family to spend no more than 30% of their gross monthly income on rent and untilities.

How does Habitat for Humanity work?
Volunteers work side by side with families in building new homes. The Habitat family is selected on factors including need, ability to pay off the no interest mortgage, and willingness to provide a down payment of "sweat equity" by contributing at least 325 hours of their own labor. The average house is a simple three bedroom, one bath house that is sold to the Habitat family for $67,500. Habitat sells the home at no profit, using mortgage payments for future Habitat houses.