HOW DOES HABITAT WORK? A HAND UP NOT A HANDOUT! Habitat houses are built with as much volunteer labor and as many donations as possible. Habitat homes are sold at no profit Qualified families receive a no interest mortgage from Habitat to be repaid monthly. Twenty year mortgages are preferred, but not required. Monthly mortgage payments are recycled to build more houses. Target is to have mortgage payments less than current rent, taxes and insurance. SWEAT EQUITY The selected family agrees to contribute 200 hours of work per adult to the building of their home in lieu of down payment. The work of the whole family, including friends and relatives is counted in the sweat equity hours. PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE Building community through shared volunteering is a basic concept of The Habitat Mission WRHFH continues to work with its families throughout the years of their mortgage. Many families volunteer as builders or workers after acquiring their Habitat house.