Habitat's Mission

• a grassroots Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty and substandard housing worldwide.
• believes that every person deserves, at least, a simple and decent place in which to live and grow into all that God intends for them to be
• builds or renovates houses in partnership with families who qualify for homeownership based on three criteria:  need, a willingness to partner with HFH and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage
• works with people of all faiths and people of no faith
• sells its houses at no profit, with no interest charged
• has built and renovated over 200,000 houses worldwide since 1976

History
North Okanogan Habitat for Humanity began in 1994 with just three people, Joan & Ken Smith and Greg Harvey.  It has grown to a mailing list of over
400, a fourteen member board and and an active membership of around 40.  The first home, a 3 bedroom 2-level  home began in April of 1997.  The second home, a 3 bedroom ranch style home was built in 1999.  Both of these homes were built in Old Orchard Estates just north of Tonasket.  The 3rd and 4th homes were built in Oroville.  A 4 bedroom home was completed in 2001 and the 4th home was a 3 bedroom home.  Our 5th home was completed in 2006 back again in Old Orchards Estates.  Currently the 6th home is under construction in Omak as well as our 7th home in Okanogan
How We Do it
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.

Family Selection
Whether in the U.S. or overseas, families in need apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate's family selection committee considers applicants' level of need, their willingness to become partners in the Habitat program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families.

If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, please check our Apply for a Home page where you will find information on the availability, size, costs, and sweat equity requirements for Habitat houses in our area, as well as information on the application process.

Habitat and its Affiliates
Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use the Habitat for Humanity International affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in other areas.

Habitat is a grass-roots movement. Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form a Habitat affiliate in their community. Fundraising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI headquarters, located in Americus, Ga., provides information, training, support and other services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

Donations
Donations are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by us that are designated to a specific building project are forwarded to that project. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed. Okanogan County Habitat for Humanity gives a tithe of our donations to HFHI to build homes in more needy countries.  Up until last year, the tithe was designated to be used in Mexico.  Now it is going to Costa Rica to assist impoverished families there
Management
Our board of directors determines policy and monitors operations in conjunction with a board of advisors. Board members are dedicated volunteers who are deeply concerned about the problems of poverty housing in our community.
Government Support
Habitat does not accept government funds for the construction of new houses or for the renovation or repair of existing houses. Ocassionally, we accept government funds for "stage-setting" infrastructure needs (streets, sewers, etc.) , or for the acquisition of land, so long as the funds have no strings attached that would violate Habitat's principles.  Okanogan Habitat for Humanity has not received any government funds thus far.