About Us

Mission Statement: Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God's love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere to develop communities with people in need by building houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God's love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

Habitat is not a "give-away" program. The houses are sold to low-income partner families and are financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. Habitat homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (called "sweat equity") to build their house and the houses of their neighbors. Howeowners' mortgage payments go into a revolving fund that is used to build additional homes in our community. To qualify for a home with East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity (ESTHFH), the family's household income must be within the 30% to 50% range of Louisiana's median income bracket.

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina's devastating title waves hit the beaches of Slidell Louisiana. Measuring over 30 feet tall these walls of water and the accompanying winds completely destroyed over 4,000 homes and 1,000 businesses in our community of 35,000. Countless other homes, businesses and churches have rebuilt after months of renovations.

In the period of time from our incorporation in 1992 until Katrina's devastation in the Gulf Coast region, ESTHFH built twenty-four (24) homes. Since the hurricane - and only because of the generous partnership with donors and volunteers from across the nation - we have renovated thirteen (13) of these homes for our partner families and provided new homes for seventy-one (71) families.

To date, our corporate partners include: NBC / Today Show, Ladies Home Journal, Coldwell Banker, Curves, Ecology and Environment, Inc., Kraft Foods, LaFarge, Lowes, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association, Proskauer Rose, LLP, Union Privilege, Chris Duhon of the Chicago Bulls, Vidal Sassoon, Hairdressers Unlocking Hope, Whirlpool, and sister Habitat affiliates from across the United States and Canada.

As of March 2008, we have ten (10) homes under construction. Our 2008 goal is to complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) homes in addition to beginning twelve (12) new builds for completion in early 2009. This year's sponsors include Merrill Lynch, the Greater Northshore Full Gospel Baptist Church, Thrivent / Lutheran Churches, The Salvation Army and matching funds from Habitat for Humanity International.

Literally thousands of volunteers have contributed to the success of ESTHFH's building program. In the past twelve months, approximately 22,880 "man days" (per 8 hour work day), totaling 183,040 man-hours have been donated by volunteers. Over 4,000 individuals representing every state in the nation, Canada, South Africa, and England have participated.

Our affiliate is able to accommodate approximately eighty (80) volunteers per week. Accommodations are provided in cooperation with local churches. In addition, we operate an RV-park for those who travel in campers. Volunteers are asked to pay a $150 per week fee that covers their expenses: lodging, food, and a Habitat T-shirt.

We celebrate God's glory and the opportunity we have to partner with families, sponsors and volunteers:

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build. (Psalm 127:1)