What is sweat equity?

How does sweat equity work at Habitat for Humanity?

Sweat equity can take many forms for future homeowners partnering with Habitat. Essentially, it’s a new homeowner investing work in their home or one for another family. It’s an opportunity for families to help build their home alongside volunteers and play an active part in making their dream of owning a home a reality.

“Sweat equity is a transformational experience for families and a cornerstone of our homeownership program,” says Sonia Lee, director of homeowner and mortgage services at Habitat for Humanity International. “The skills and knowledge gained through activities like volunteering on a build site or taking financial literacy classes help set new homeowners up for success long-term.”

Eight ways families put the “sweat” in sweat equity with Habitat

• Performing construction work on their home or another family’s home. Common activities can include framing or raising walls.
• Clearing debris from build sites to make way for new construction.
• Serving as a greeter or helping customers find the perfect item for their DIY project at a Habitat ReStore.
• Writing thank you cards to local donors or filing or performing other administrative tasks.
• Helping to make lunches for volunteers on a build site.
• Children can also sometimes contribute to the family’s sweat equity by earning good grades in school. Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity in Florida awards one hour of sweat equity for every “A” that a child earns.
• Participating in homeowner classes. Throughout the process of purchasing their home, future homeowners can earn sweat equity credit as they learn about their mortgage, insurance, maintenance, home safety and more.
• Documenting a disaster preparedness plan or preparing a home hurricane preparation kit.

The power of lending a hand

The idea behind sweat equity, families working side by side with volunteers to build their homes, goes back to even before Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976.

Clarence Jordan, the founder of Koinonia Farm where Habitat for Humanity began, dreamed of helping families break the cycle of poverty and helping to end injustices that barred families of color from achieving economic equity. At Koinonia Farm, he invited families, both Black and white, to live in community while sharing ideas and working the land. Together, with farm residents Millard and Linda Fuller, he developed the concept of “partnership housing,” where those in need of decent homes would work alongside each other to build affordable houses.

That co-worker approach informs Habitat’s emphasis on sweat equity: all of us working together so that homeowners around the world are able to achieve strength and stability as they build better lives for themselves and for their families.