About Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County

Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County is a non-profit, ecumenical, Christian-based organization with private non-profit 501 (c)(3) status and an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat Gaston uses volunteer labor to build affordable homes in partnership with those in need here in Gaston County and in Honduras. Habitat’s simple, affordable homes have 0% interest mortgages. Mortgage payments from homeowners are recycled back into the Habitat building program to fund more Habitat homes.

All Are Welcome
Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people.  In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves all people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize.  This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.

We offer our homeowners a hand-up not a hand-out. With the houses that Habitat builds, we provide no-interest loans to eligible families who agree to honor the terms of their mortgage.  In return, the homeowners partner with Habitat and agree to provide “sweat equity,” volunteering at the Habitat ReStore, working in the community, building their own house or working on another recipient’s house.  Habitat gives training in homeownership, financial management, and other life skills necessary to maintain the house and property, and to be a good neighbor.  Over the life of the relationship–from recruitment, selection and final payment of mortgage–Habitat provides counseling and support to assure a successful outcome. The funds received from the mortgages go back into the Habitat building program.

Goal
The ultimate goal of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by constructing and building affordable housing. Furthermore, all of our words and actions are focused to place shelter on the hearts and minds of people in such a powerful way that poverty housing and homelessness become socially, politically, and religiously unacceptable in our nation and world.