South Shore Habitat for Humanity was founded in Norwell in 1986 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. We serve 35 cities and towns south and southwest of Boston. Help us change lives in all 35!
We undertake our work to demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus, acting in all ways in accord with the belief that God's love and grace abound for all, and that we must be "hands and feet" of that love and grace in our world. We believe that, through faith, the miniscule can be multiplied to accomplish the magnificent, and that, in faith, respectful relationships can grow among all people.
We have chosen, as our means of manifesting God's love, to create opportunities for all people to live in decent, durable shelter. We put faith into action by helping to build, renovate or preserve homes, and by partnering with others to accelerate and broaden access to affordable housing as a foundation for break- ing the cycle of poverty.
In response to the prophet Micah's call to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God, we promote decent, affordable housing for all, and we sup- port the global community's commitment to housing as a basic human right. We will advocate for just and fair housing policy to eliminate the constraints that contribute to poverty housing. And, in all of our work, we will seek to put shelter on hearts and minds in such powerful ways that poverty housing becomes socially, politically and religiously unacceptable.
We believe that no one lives in dignity until everyone can live in dignity. We believe that every person has something to contribute and something to gain from creating communities in which all people have decent, affordable places to live. We believe that dignity and hope are best achieved through equitable, accountable partnerships.
We view our work as successful when it transforms lives and promotes positive and lasting social, economic and spiritual change within a community; when it is based on mutual trust and fully shared accomplishment; and when it demonstrates responsible stewardship of all resources entrusted to us.
Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations will not proselytize. Nor will HFH work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with HFH. This means that HFH will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Selected homeowners work alongside volunteers on the construction of their home. Families purchase the home at cost and receive a 20-year, zero-interest mortgage from South Shore Habitat for Humanity. A perpetual deed restriction maintains the affordability status of each home. South Shore Habitat uses the principal payments to finance future home construction for other families with housing needs in the South Shore Area. Habitat Family Partners are selected through a competitive process based on their ability to pay, willingness to partner and need for adequate housing. South Shore Habitat for Humanity offers a hand-up, not a hand-out. Our partnership program includes educational workshops to equip new homeowners with the skills necessary to be active members of their communities.
