Bshs 462 - Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity

April 14, 2012

University of Phoenix

Class BSHS/462

This paper will provide information about Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes for low income families across the world. The organization brings families and communities together in low-income areas in an effort to enhance the quality of life of those whom desire living in a safe and decent home. They build homes for families which; are simple, decent and affordable.

Organizational structure and departments, divisions, or specific areas of program delivery

Habitat for humanity has three concentrated areas of organizational structure: Support services and training, public awareness, and international advocacy. Support services include donated money and resources that make it possible for volunteers to construct and restore decent houses for families in need. Public awareness enables other businesses to become partners and encourages people to get involved. International advocacy allows Habitat for Humanity to go worldwide, providing homes to those living all around the world such as; Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

There are five specific areas of program delivery. The development program oversees the fund raising and community involvement; the family committee chooses the families that will be eligible for a home, the family nurturing committee enables the new buyers to understand every one of the responsibilities involved in owning a new home; the site selection committees decides upon the location and purchasing the land; and the building committee who is in charge of building the home.

What is the organizational culture, is the organization private, for-profit, or nonprofit

Habitat for Humanities is an ecumenical Christian nonprofit housing ministry whose goal is to help build affordable housing for those who normally would not be able to purchase a home. To date they have helped build more than 500,000 homes (Habitat for Humanities, n.d. 2012), and the list continues to grow.

Habitat's culture is inclusive of all religion although it is a Christian ministry with a mission to stamp out homelessness not just in the United States but worldwide. Because of this, the culture of this organization is very diverse with a community that crosses state and country lines. Habitat for Humanity is very clear that all are welcome. Their organization is based on the teachings of Jesus and presents every new homeowner with a copy of the Bible when their house is dedicated. (Habitat for Humanities, n.d., 2012).

The culture of Habitat for Humanity is diverse and Christian and important for those that are recipients of the new home to understand that because religion is a personal choice and practice. Another important part of the culture is the homeowner because each homeowner participates in building their home along with the many volunteers and employees of the organization.

Habitat for Humanity joins volunteers along with the homeowners' in which build a strong bond within the community. They are very successful in building a strong community because the many volunteers live within the community of the home they are helping to build. Those who have been fortunate enough to be a volunteer have found that the friends made during one house building last a life time (personal experience)

Blake and McCanse's Leadership Grid

Habitat for Humanity's management relates to "9, 9 oriented manager sees concern for people and concern for production as complementary" (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2007, p.158). The organization depends on volunteers whom are ready, willing, and able to build