About Reading-Berks Habitat

Our Mission Statement:

Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) ecumenical Christian charitable organization which exists to create affordable homeownership opportunities with and for low-income families.   Families who purchase Habitat for Humanity homes must first contribute 400 hours construction labor on a Habitat home, a contribution we call “sweat-equity.”  Homes are sold to the families at no profit, and financed by Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity with zero-interest mortgages.  The payments made by the families on their mortgages are then used to build more homes in our community.  We rely on volunteers and families contributing sweat-equity for the “un-skilled” labor needed to build the homes.  Working in this way, we believe we provide families a “hand-up” rather than a “hand-out,” while also providing a way for good people to assist hard-working families in our community.

Our History - Celebrating 20 Years!

In 1988, Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity was born. Since its inception, RBHFH has placed 38 families into newly-built or renovated homes in Berks County. 95% of all RBHFH homeowners remain in their Habitat homes, improving their families' quality of living and breaking the cycle of poverty for generations to come.

We are in a period of tremendous growth at Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity.  Over the past two years we have nearly tripled our home production, working with and for low-income families.

Further, almost 4,000 volunteers from all walks of life (church groups, senior citizens, ARD placements, college students, company sponsored employee outreach, government officials, school and vo-tech programs, international visitors from Habitat and the building trades professionals) worked with Reading-Berks Habitat during the past year.

We would like to thank the members of the Board, our staff and all volunteers and contributors for their ongoing efforts to help eliminate poverty housing here in Reading and Berks County. If you are interested in helping to eliminate poverty housing here in Reading and Berks County, please contact our office. 

About Habitat For Humanity

The Habitat for Humanity name is well-known through the efforts of Millard Fuller, Jimmy Carter, Jack Kemp and many other committed individuals. But most people don't understand how we conduct our ministry. 

Habitat for Humanity is a "Hand Up", not a "Hand Out." We do not provide free houses for needy people. We work in partnership with people to help them build their house and we teach them how to become homeowners, not renters.

A Habitat for Humanity House actually begins with a thorough selection process to choose a family to live in it. We require that they meet three criteria. They must have: (1) the need for adequate housing, (2) limited income with the ability to repay the no interest loan, and (3) the willingness to partner. 

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity requires the homeowners to work alongside our volunteers to invest hours of "sweat equity" in their home as a measure of their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. The cost of the home is amortized over a 30-year interest free loan from Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity, Inc. We then use that money to build other homes within Berks County.

We would be delighted to supply you with any additional information over the phone, mail you a volunteer packet, or have one of our officers visit your church, business or organization to explain our purpose and how we might partner.

Families interested in applying for home ownership should call the Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity, Inc. office at (610) 373-3439. Members of the Family Selection Committee are available to assist you in filling out the application should you have questions or require assistance.

Biblical Economics

"Charging no interest to people who are needy" (Exodus 22:25), houses are sold at no profit to families, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period.

Small monthly mortgages are repaid over an average of twenty years and deposited into a revolving "Fund for Humanity" which supports the construction of more new homes.  In this way, the people that benefit from a Habitat Homeowner Partnership help to make the same benefits possible for others.

Habitat isn’t just about housing. It’s about reaching out to our neighbors with the love of Christ, that they might know Him through us. Through His ministry, Jesus emphasized the fact that people may believe what you say, but they will always believe what you do.

Simply put, actions speak louder than words.  Habitat provides an opportunity for people to put their faith and love into action, bringing people together to build affordable housing and improve our community.