About Us


Situation Analysis
According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 600,000 persons in the United States are without a home. New York City is by no means immune to this crisis, with over 55,000 of its own inhabitants currently utilizing the NYC shelter systems. Lack of secure housing stands as a major cause of various other social problems such as the deterioration of mental health and drug addiction. Aiming to curb this growing trend of homelessness and all its tangential problems, Habitat for Humanity tackles this issue directly by constructing safe, affordable homes. The Columbia University Chapter, in collaboration with Habitat-NYC, continues to contribute to the greater effort to provide houses for those who need them most.

Mission
The Columbia University Chapter of Habitat for Humanity aims to assist in the building of safe, affordable homes, as well as all spaces of inhabitation, including, but not limited to, community centers, parks, and schools. In addition, we strive to better educate the Columbia/Barnard community about the ongoing housing crisis in New York City through various on-campus advocacy events. Volunteers are sent to various sites throughout the five boroughs to help construct and/or renovate homes for lower-income families through light construction work. With goals to ultimately serve as the platform for all NYC housing-related discussions within the University, the Columbia Chapter aspires to become the primary think-tank for all issues involving affordable housing.