A selected family agrees to put in at least 500 hours of work on their future home. It is then sold to the family at no profit and no interest. Including taxes and insurance, the monthly payment is usually much less than the family has been paying in rent for inadequate housing. Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate's family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan.
Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.