Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry with the mission of providing decent, affordable housing in partnership with families of modest income.  The homeowner partners sign a covenant agreeing to provide 500 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build the homes they buy from the organization.
     Habitat operates on the  “Economics of Jesus”.   Local affiliates of the worldwide organization collect no interest and earn no profit from the families they provide with decent affordable housing.  Because Habitat collects no interest, the monthly mortgage payment  plus whatever tax escrow payment is  needed  means the average Habitat family has a monthly payment of under $500,  usually less than a rent payment.  Because there is no interest, 100% of the mortgage payment itself is applied toward equity in the home, and Habitat then re-invests the proceeds in the building of additional homes.
     Virtually all of the local contributions to Habitat Lockport go to work building homes locally, with one notable exception:  the local affiliate contributes financially to the work of Habitat International each time a home is dedicated here.  That allows the organization to build as many as seven homes overseas for each one done in Eastern Niagara County.
     Habitat Lockport was founded by local volunteers in 1996 and has completed 12 homes in Easter Niagara County since.  Habitat welcomes gifts of cash, building materials or real properties where its volunteers might build a new home or rehabilitate an existing one for a future partner family.