With decades of mission work here in the Philippines and globally, key concepts have emerged from the Habitat way, which have been accepted by our partners and other stakeholders. HFH Philippines provide a deeper understanding of these concepts:
Partners-in-Mission
Habitat for Humanity's core competency lies in mobilizing people in the physical building of houses. Given this, HFHP partners wi
th organizations collaborating in various projects and the implementation of programs for community development
Repayment
Today, over 32,000 families are living in houses they’ve built with Habitat for Humanity Philippines. These families have benefited from “partnership housing,” whereby those in need of decent shelter participate centrally in the process by helping build, then buy, their homes. Their monthly mortgage payments are “recycled” in a Fund for Humanity and used to fund more homes with other families. The repayment is a way for a Habitat home partner to “pay it forward” in helping another family have a place they can call their own. Sweat Equity
The term “sweat equity” was born from the ministries of Koinonia Farm, where HFH International Founder Millard Fuller spent his days before he established Habitat for Humanity. This concept work around the idea that future homeowners gain self-worth as they build their own homes and work side by side volunteers. Koinonia leader Clarence Jordan had once said that the poor need “co-workers not caseworkers, capital not charity.” “Sweat equity” refers to the labor or the hours of work that Habitat home partners devote in building their homes and those of their neighbors. Home partners render sweat equity once they are selected to be Habitat partners, but prior to the completion and awarding of their new houses. Volunteerism
Habitat for Humanity brings people together to help build homes and communities, providing everyone an avenue to contribute their time and skills. Volunteers also lower down the cost of the houses as individuals and groups render hours in physically constructing Habitat houses.
