Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta is a 2-star charity. It has a B results reporting grade, which is average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 45 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside of Ci's reasonable range. Ci has rated this charity as Low demonstrated impact. 

Founded in 1990, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta (HFHSA) is the affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada that runs the Habitat Homeownership program in Southern Alberta. HFHSA is one of Habitat Canada's 46 local affiliates. It provides affordable housing to low-income families in five local communities: Brooks, Calgary, Foothills, Medicine Hat, and Mountain View. HFHSA states that 10% of households in Alberta are in core housing need and over 4,000 people in Calgary are on waitlists for social housing.

Homeownership is HFHSA's main program. To be eligible for a Habitat home, families must meet certain financial and employment requirements, have children under 18, and contribute 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ into building Habitat homes. Partner families buy Habitat homes at market value, with no down payment and an interest-free mortgage capped at 30% of total household income. Mortgage payments enter a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more homes in the community.

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta spent $3.0m on its Homeownership program in F2022. HFHSA expects to provide housing for 26 new families in F2023, with 29 homes to either begin or complete construction. The charity partners with local businesses and volunteers to build these homes.

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta spent $1.6m on five buybacks and repairs on the buybacks in F2022. Buybacks take place when partner families have built up equity and are ready to move out of their Habitat home. HFHSA repurchases the home from the family, allowing the family to use the equity to buy a house on the market.

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta also operates ReStore, a business that sells new and lightly used building materials and home products at 40% - 60% off retail prices. These materials are donated from the public or the national charity (Habitat for Humanity Canada). HFHSA manages one Restore in Calgary and one in Medicine Hat. HFHSA reports that its ReStores diverted 3.4k tons of waste in F2022.

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta received $1.4m in cash donations and $176k in goods in kind to be used in building Habitat homes. Administrative costs are 21% of revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 34% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 55%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 45 cents go to the cause. This is not within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. When donated build materials are included, the fundraising ratio drops to 30%*.

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta has $5.5m in reserve funds. HFHSA’s reserve funds can cover 77%, or nine months of annual program spending.

This is an update that has been sent to Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 14, 2023 by Liam Chapleau.

*Ci did not include donated build materials in its standard fundraising cost ratio calculation because it could not accurately determine what proportion of materials came from Habitat for Humanity Canada.