Sweat Equity

Each Habitat family is required to contribute five hundred hours of sweat equity. Habitat for Humanity will not transfer ownership of the home to the family until all 500 hours have been completed.

Sweat Equity will never be considered as a down payment. These sweat equity hours can be contributed on a number of projects such as building your home, another partner family’s home, working in our office, ReStore or any other location designated by an authorized employee or Family Support Committee member of Habitat for Humanity Nanaimo. Please work with your Family Partner if you have any questions or suggestions.

Habitat for Humanity reserves the right to deny your move into the home until all sweat equity hours have been completed. You will be given a “Sweat Equity Record Book”. It will be your responsibility to record the hours you, or any other of your contributors, has worked. You must ensure that the record book is signed by the Habitat Supervisor or the person authorized by Habitat, and provide Habitat with the total hours worked on a regular basis.

While we do our best to provide opportunities for you and your family to contribute to your sweat equity hours, you are responsible for contacting our office or your Family Partner regarding your availability for work. Hours put in by other family members and friends must be approved in advance. Your participation on work days and at other Habitat activities is a measure of your sincerity and desire for a home. Seeing families willingly working on other homes, as well as their own, encourages other volunteers to help. These volunteers make the low cost of our partner families’ homes possible.

Habitat for Humanity is founded on the principle of partnership, not profit. We seek to give you the chance to purchase your own home: we do not give you a home. By working together, we develop a sense of partnership and mutual respect. Habitat encourages you to continue helping others with their houses even after you have completed your required sweat equity hours.

Who Can Contribute Hours Towards “Sweat Equity”?

All those who will be living in the Habitat home and listed on the Application form can contribute. Volunteers must be 18 years or older for construction work. Those under 18 are not allowed on the build site for insurance reasons. Habitat for Humanity Nanaimo, through your Family Partner will inform you of the type of activities family members under 18 can contribute to. Other volunteers recruited by your family, such as friends or community and faith groups, can contribute towards your hours. We will require 48 hours notice of their intention to volunteer on your family’s behalf. Each Affiliate determines how many hours friends and family can contribute towards your sweat equity.

For example, Friends, family and those not living in the home can contribute up to 125 hours towards sweat equity when there are two or more adults in a family. Friends, family and those not living in the home can contribute up to 200 hours towards sweat equity when there is only 1 adult in a family.

The numbers of hours contributed by family or friends can be adjusted with the approval of the Board. Sweat Equity policy is usually flexible enough to accommodate partner families with disabilities and other difficulties. You are encouraged to consult with your Family Partner for details.

Sweat Equity That Will Be Counted

All work that is approved by Habitat for Humanity Nanaimo will be counted. Projects such as the following may be included:

• Construction of your home or the homes of others.
• Habitat publicity and fundraising events, office work, ReStore work, and scheduled childcare for Habitat events.
• Attendance at Family Orientation Meetings, Groundbreaking and Dedication Ceremonies
• Community-based volunteer work as approved by the Family Support Committee

Sweat Equity That Will Not Be Counted

Any work that has not been approved in advance by Habitat for Humanity Nanaimo will NOT be counted. Hours may not be counted if you are not actively working. Among the work hours that will NOT be counted are:

• Packing and moving to your new home
• Any work on your home after you move in

If sweat equity hours are not completed within a reasonable amount of time, Habitat for Humanity Nanaimo reserves the right to terminate the agreement of Partner Family home ownership.