Frances Hardy, Director of Resource Development for the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, enlighten us on the goals and the workings of the organization. Partnering with Rotary International, the group has one vision: a world where everyone has a decent place to live. The organization has 1300 offices in the United States and builds homes in 70 countries. Since 1976 over 13.2 million people have been served.
The Habitat helps low-income individuals, families, and veterans obtain housing. To be eligible the homeowner must invest 500 hours of his own time into building his home. They have to earn less than 80% of the area’s minimum wage. The habit provides affordable mortgages, which are 30% of the homeowner income. Each homeowner’s mortgage payments are put into the “Fund for Humanity”, a revolving fund to build and repair more homes for families in need. The program has a 100% success rate.
The group is powered by the generosity of thousands of volunteers and donors. At the meeting, President Pat Dolphin made two contributions to the Habitat for Humanity. First, $1000 as the annual gift to our selected charity, Habitat for Humanity Veteran Housing in the San Gabriel Valley, and also a $5000 gift from funds raised by The Field of Honor project which are used for various Arcadia Rotary charities.