Building Homes > FAQ
FAQ
- What is Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity?
- Why did Thrivent Financial and Habitat form this alliance?
- Is this the first time Thrivent Financial has worked with Habitat?
- How does this new alliance differ from Thrivent Financial’s previous relationship with Habitat?
- How is the alliance funded?
- How do these houses differ from typical Habitat for Humanity houses?
- Who will live in Thrivent Builds homes?
- In what ways can I get involved in Thrivent Builds Homes?
- When will a build come to my community?
- What is Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity?
Thrivent Builds is a new financial, volunteer and advocacy
alliance formed between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans® and
Habitat for Humanity® International. The four-year, $125-million alliance includes several programs under the Thrivent Builds umbrella:
- Thrivent Builds Homes: Thrivent Financial will sponsor the construction of hundreds of Habitat homes annually and seek to engage thousands of volunteers in Habitat home-building projects. Sixty five percent of the funding for each Thrivent Builds home will come from Thrivent Financial with 35 percent of the remaining funding coming from the continuing fund-raising efforts of local Thrivent chapters and Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
- Thrivent Builds Worldwide: Thrivent Financial will promote short-term (one- to three-week) trips in by its members and Lutheran congregations to build homes abroad.
- Thrivent Builds Neighborhoods: This program is building more than homes – it’s helping to rebuild entire communities. The program seeks to improve many factors in a neighborhood so that the people who live and work there can enjoy a better life.
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- Why did Thrivent Financial and Habitat form this alliance?
Participating in this alliance makes sense for both organizations. As a faith-based membership organization, Thrivent Financial’s mission is to care for others. Similarly, Habitat seeks to work with organizations that share its values and want to help eliminate poverty housing. A home is the biggest financial asset most families own and a key ingredient to achieving economic independence. Providing decent, affordable housing is a demonstration of the organizations’ values.
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- Is this the first time Thrivent Financial has worked with Habitat?
No, but this new agreement does significantly expand Thrivent Financial’s already strong relationship with Habitat for Humanity. Since 1991, Thrivent Financial and its members have worked with Habitat to build more than 500 homes, raise more than $25 million and contribute more than 1.4 million volunteer hours in homebuilding time. The new alliance is estimated to provide up to $25 million in support each year over the next four years.
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- How does this new alliance differ from Thrivent Financial’s previous relationship with Habitat?
For the past few years, Thrivent Financial supported Habitat builds through a program called "Building Hope…Building Homes" and was managed at a regional level. Grants of $5,000 to $40,000 were awarded to a handful of builds in an area. Thrivent chapters (local volunteer groups made up of Thrivent Financial members) had an opportunity to participate in the builds, but this was not a requirement of the grant. The new initiative, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, funds 65 percent of the cost of the home and requires substantial participation by chapter volunteers and Habitat affiliates. In addition, it includes neighborhood grants and short-term trips to build houses worldwide.
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- How is the alliance funded?
It will be funded through a mix of sources: Thrivent Financial will provide 65 percent of the funding needed for each of the Habitat for Humanity homes it sponsors, with remaining funding generated locally by Thrivent chapters (member-volunteer groups), Habitat affiliates and other volunteers from the community.
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- How do these houses differ from typical Habitat for Humanity houses?
From a homebuilding perspective, there is no difference. Thrivent Builds homes will be built like any Habitat for Humanity home but with a greater focus on assistance from local Thrivent Financial members and Lutheran congregations. Those groups and other volunteers from the community will come together to build simple, decent homes. The homes are then sold to partner families at no profit. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into helping build their home and the homes of others.
The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.
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- Who will live in Thrivent Builds homes?
Families in need of decent shelter will apply to their local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. The affiliate chooses homeowners based on their level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay a no-profit loan for the cost of the home. Habitat follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.
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- In what ways can I get involved in Thrivent Builds Homes?
You can share your time and talents in a number of ways:
- Prayer.
- General office help.
- Greeting volunteers on the build site.
- Preparing meals.
- Assisting with publicity.
- Coordinating events with interested people.
- Donations.
- Spreading the word to friends and family.
- Organizing or participating in fund-raisers.
- Recruiting (helping recruit or share
information with interested people).
- Advocacy within your community.
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- When will a build come to my community?
Visit the Build Locations page to find a Thrivent Builds Homes build nearest you and to sign up for a volunteer interest list.
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