Who We Are?

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is an ecumenical, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of substandard housing in Clarke, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties in the state of Georgia. Our organization was founded in 1988 based on our strong belief that everyone in the Athens community deserves the opportunity to own their own home. Since its inception, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity has built homes in partnership with numerous deserving families in the Athens Area.

What We Do?

Habitat builds houses and sells them to qualifying families at no-profit and no-interest. Thus, Habitat is not a give away program. Habitat homeowners work side by side with volunteers, cutting the cost of building the house. Homeowners must repay the cost of building their home with no interest charge and 100% of the mortgage payments going towards the funding of future Habitat houses.

What Does Partnership Mean?

In Habitat, partnership means working together toward a common goal. When Habitat builds a house, many people are involved; through the combined effort of our staff, board members, sponsors, homeowners, and volunteers, we can succeed in our effort to improve the housing situation in the Athens Area.

The Site Selection Committee looks for affordable land. The Family Selection Committee looks for families in need who are willing to join in the effort. The Resource Development Committee raises money to cover building costs. The building Committee coordinates the construction of the houses, and still others prepare the selected family with homeowner education. All committee members are volunteers.

In addition to groups and individuals volunteers who participate in the actual construction of the houses, Habitat homeowners build as well. It is important that prospective homeowners demonstrate eagerness and a willingness to work on their own home and other Habitat homes. To us, not only does this demonstrate the positive attitude, determination, and work ethic that we feel is vital to successful homeownership, but it also demonstrates the homeowners' commitment to becoming a part of the Habitat community. Habitat homeowners are required to put forth 500 hours of sweat equity (labor at the construction site) before they can move into their new home.