Mission Statement and Purpose
Harbor Habitat for Humanity is a 501©3 non-profit housing ministry dedicated to building decent affordable housing in partnership with those in need, in the city of Benton Harbor and Benton Charter Township. Since 1996 Harbor Habitat for Humanity Benton Harbor has helped over 88 families to become new homeowners while revitalizing communities.
Harbor Habitat believes in the simple conviction that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. Our mission is to eliminate substandard housing in Benton Harbor and Benton Charter Township by engaging the community and partnering with families to provide them with a decent place to live. In order to make homes affordable to low-income families, we seek and enco
urage the support of volunteers to build each house.
Harbor Habitat builds not just houses, but partnerships; partnerships with individuals and families, business and neighborhoods, the skilled trade person and novice volunteer, between clergy and executive, suburb and city. These partnerships are the foundation for lasting relationships and strengthened communities. Harbor Habitat enables people from across the Benton Harbor community- both city and suburban, to volunteer and work together with a shared goal: to create an opportunity for a hardworking and deserving family in the Benton Harbor area.
Mission Principles
- Demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.
- Advocate on behalf of those in need of decent shelter.
- Focus on shelter by building and renovating simple, decent, affordable houses.
- Engage broad community through inclusive leadership and diverse partnerships.
- Promote dignity through full partnership with Habitat homeowners and future home partners.
- Promote transformational and sustainable community development.
Harbor Habitat is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, yet we seek our own support. Our volunteers, donors, individuals, churches, corporations and other organizations, such as schools or civic groups share a goal to eliminating substandard housing. Each Habitat house is built with community partners that may donate funding, building materials and labor to reach our shared goal. Houses are sold at no profit and with a long-term,
interest-free mortgage. Monthly mortgage payments are used to finance additional Habitat homes. Our organization has built several homes in the Benton Harbor Neighborhoods and has started our first Subdivision,
Crystal Estates in Benton Harbor.
Harbor Habitat provides a "hand up," not a "hand out" to families in need. We offer our partner families an opportunity to help themselves, to own a decent, affordable home of their own.
Partner families invest 300 hours of volunteer labor – “Sweat Equity” – into building their homes and the homes of others. This is a key and most essential aspect of our program. Not only does completing the 300 hour requirement help to build houses, but it prepares each Partner Family for success with finances, homeownership and community by offering informative workshops and training opportunities. By investing themselves in the building process, homeowners gain self-reliance, self-esteem and new skills.
Please contact our main office for more information about our Homeownership opportunities.
