About Our Homes

Equal Housing Opportunity logoEqual Opportunity Builder

Habitat for Humanity-Greater Columbus (HFHGC) is committed to the letter and spirit of the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

For more information about fair housing in Ohio, please visit the Columbus Fair Housing Center’s website.

Builders framing

Where We Build

The Greater Columbus Affiliate primarily builds new homes on vacant lots in the inner-city neighborhoods of Franklin County that are most in need of revitalization and redevelopment. We have built homes in North Linden, the Hilltop, Franklinton, American Addition, and in several Southside and Eastside Columbus neighborhoods.

Construction

Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable homes that range in size between 1,000 and 1,400 square feet, using 60-70% volunteer labor. A staff superintendent, paid project leads, and volunteer house and crew leads work together to instruct and oversee all other volunteers on the home builds. Building usually happens one to five days per week over a period of three to six months and volunteers contribute approximately 2,500 hours to construct a home.

Cutting boards to size
House Plans and Models

The Greater Columbus Affiliate builds three- to four-bedroom ranch and two-story homes, all with full basements and most with one-car detached garages. We have 10 house designs, each with an alternate elevation, and each incorporating universal design elements to accommodate people of varying physical abilities. 

Construction materials typically include wood frames, vinyl siding, asphalt shingle roofs, poured basements, and steel external doors. The amenities for each home typically include carpeting, furnace, water heater, air conditioning unit, stove, and a refrigerator. Habitat Partner Families also receive a Bible and a handcrafted quilt made by Habitat volunteers.

Energy StarUSGBC logo"Green" Building

All Habitat homes are built adhering to the Enterprise Foundation's Green Communities standards, as well as being Energy Star™ Certified. We are also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. We are continually looking for ways to improve our homes' energy efficiency and the sustainability of our construction materials to further increase energy conservation while decreasing environmental impact and maintenance cost for residents. 

Worker in patriotic hardhat

Safety

HFHGC has a thorough safety program which is guided by a dedicated Safety Committee consisting of staff, construction volunteers, and U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) officials. We are the first Habitat for Humanity affiliate to form an alliance with OSHA in order to become proactive about our safety procedures and program. For more information, please see our Safety Manual, Safety Huddle Booklet, and Site Operations Training guide.