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Affiliates Please note the change in HFHI's government funds policy below. This change has just been made as of today and it comes directly from our new CEO.
Message posted on behalf of Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer, HFHI on 12/5/05:
Dear Partners,
Some months ago, you were invited to take part in a survey regarding a possible change in policy that would grant affiliates in the United States greater flexibility in how they use government funds.
Many of you responded to the survey and I thank you for that. Your thoughts, insights and suggestions are important in our efforts to better serve more and more families. They are helpful, too, as we work to make our policies and programs as transparent and as consistent as possible.
The existing policy provided that government funds may be used to cover administrative costs and to set the stage for construction, but that no government money could be used in the actual construction of a house. The provision was carefully crafted to ensure that accepting and using government money would in no way limit Habitat’s ministry to demonstrate the love and teaching of Jesus Christ through our work.
Since 2001, however, global policy has differed from U.S. policy. Elsewhere in the world, affiliates and national organizations are discouraged from becoming dependent upon any one source of funds, government, corporate, foundation or individual – maintaining diverse sources of funding helps strengthen and protect Habitat’s work – they are allowed to use the funds for construction as we are for infrastructure.
No challenges or concerns have surfaced since the change, so Habitat for Humanity International’s Board of Directors and the U.S. Council agreed to review the U.S. policy, especially after reviewing the nearly 30 years that we have seen Habitat’s work in the United States take such strong root. After careful review, and taking your survey comments, questions and suggestions into account, the U.S. Council recommended to the board that we adopt a matching policy for all affiliates in the United States.
I am happy to announce that at its meeting in Baltimore in October, the board adopted that single policy, which will allow U.S. affiliates, if they choose, to use government funds to build houses. The official adopted policy reads:
“Habitat for Humanity International welcomes partnerships with governments that includes accepting funds and other resources to help provide houses for God’s children in need, provided these partnerships do not limit our ability to demonstrate the love and teaching of Jesus Christ, and further provided that affiliates do not become dependent on or controlled by government funds or other funding sources. Local Habitat for Humanity affiliates or Habitat for Humanity International may adopt more specific guidelines as deemed necessary to avoid such dependence or control.”
It’s clear the board held fast to the Christian mission and principles by ensuring that no government funds will be accepted if they put at risk our ability to express and to demonstrate our Christian foundations through our work, or threatens to become the sole source for funding. But the move also protects Habitat’s grassroots structure, leaving it to each affiliate to decide whether or not, based upon local situations and conditions, to use government funds for construction. It leaves the determination – as a matter of conscience and action – to affiliates.
I am excited by this change in policy and the opportunities it may offer, and at the same time comforted by the significance the board placed on protecting our core Christian principles. I am eager, together with each of you and God’s guidance, to move forward as we seek to serve His people.
Thank you and blessings,
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
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