Characteristics and Environments of a Human Service Organization Paper
Alex Monroe
BSHS 461 - Building Community in Human Service Organizations
University of Phoenix
October 29, 2013
Peter Petsas Jr., LCSW

Characteristics and Environments of a Human Service Organization Paper
Introduction
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) International is the lead voice on a worldwide level in regards to the issues of poverty housing. This organization also addresses the issues of poverty housing through its affiliates on national, state, and local levels. In the U.S. alone Habitat has over 1,500 affiliates in cities, counties, and states all over the country. Founded and established by the late Millard Fuller and his wife Linda in 1976 Habitat for Humanity has been a major force in providing affordable housing for poverty stricken and low-income families all over the world. According to Habitat for Humanity International (2013), “Habitat has helped build or repair more than 600,000 houses and served more than 3 million people around the world” (Habitat today). For the last 37 years Habitat for Humanity has worked tirelessly providing housing for families who cannot obtain homeownership through traditional means.
Vision and Mission
In the United States there are over 46 million individuals living in poverty (Thomas Reuters Corporation, 2013). With minimum wage not having the capability to keep up with the rising costs of living working individuals struggle to maintain sufficient housing needs. Low income families and families living in poverty hang on a thread living in slum like conditions. Homeless families wander the streets wondering where they will sleep for the night. Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone can afford housing. Affordable housing can provide stability for children and families; establish dignity and pride, and increase health and physical safety. Also housing can provide security for families. Families living in subpar conditions not only face issues such as health they are also vulnerable to violence, gangs, and drugs. According to Habitat for Humanity International (2013) their main mission is the belief that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live (Our mission).
The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to help eliminate poverty by providing simple, decent shelter to those in need. There are a large number of families and individuals who cannot afford housing and sustain their basic needs. Habitat’s mission includes affordable housing in order for these families and individuals to provide their basic needs. Basic needs are critical to survival and when families and individuals cannot meet their needs this causes numerous risk factors ranging from sickness to malnutrition. Habitat for Humanity raises awareness about the dire need for affordable housing not only in the United States but across the world. The organization can be viewed as the advocates for worldwide affordable housing for all homeless, low income, and poverty stricken families.
Organizational Governance
Organizational governance also known as corporate governance is a set of rules that are in place to guide and control the organization. According to Investopedia US (2013), corporate governance is “the system of rules, practices and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. Corporate governance essentially involves balancing the interests of the many stakeholders in a company” (Definition of Corporate Governance). Habitat for Humanity utilizes a board of directors to govern their organization. The board is responsible for evaluating management and removing individuals who do not enhance the organization’s performance or sustain it. Basically the board of directors will monitor progress, activities, and take actions to correct any flaws that are making the business go astray. This type of organizational governance can be viewed as an internal mechanism.
Various roles in the Organization & Key Stake Holders
The various roles organizational roles of HFH will be viewed on the local affiliate level. The roles in the organization consist of executive director who oversees the entire operations of the organization and reports directly to the board of directors. The acquisitions director is responsible for obtaining properties for the organization and selling properties that do not fit the organization’s motives. The construction manager oversees all building and restoration projects and manages volunteers at the construction sites. The bookkeeper is responsible for maintaining financial records and transactions made by the organization. The volunteer coordinator is responsible for recruiting volunteers, organizing community service volunteers, and putting together work crews for construction projects. The development and communications manager’s duties are to promote the organization, put together fundraisers, host community events, and to upgrade the organization’s website and social media sites.
In addition Habitat for Humanity have Restores where they sell slightly used and new building materials, electronics, furniture, appliances, and numerous other products. The Restore employees are responsible for picking up physical donations, organizing on site donations, and overseeing the overall operations of the Restore. The key stakeholders in the organization are the families who enter into a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. These partner families are families who have qualified for homeownership and must invest in their homes not only financially but also physically. Physical labor performed by partnership families is called sweat equity. Sweat equity requires 300 hours of labor from partner families towards the completion of their homes. Other key stakeholders are the financers of the program people need to understand that Habitat is a hand up program and not a handout program. Without the flexibility of the financers to allow such low down payments and cheap mortgages this program would not be possible.
Community Collaboration, Partnerships, & Marketing
As mention in the previous section of the paper families enter into partnerships with Habitat for Humanity. The organization practices what it preaches by collaborating with organizations in the community. Habitat has partnered with local colleges, businesses such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, and local government and city agencies to name a few. Marketing strategies used by the organization are hosting fundraisers with local businesses, having galas where they give out rewards for outstanding service from volunteers, employees, and contributors. Habitat also continuously has sales on items at their Restores that entice clientele to shop at their stores. The organization also appeals to the public to join them for workshop seminars on how to make home repairs to strategies on buying a home for first time buyers. These strategies are important due to they build strong relationships with the individuals and businesses in the community, bring recognition, and solidifies credibility throughout the community.
Environmental Trends
Environmental trends can be categorized into four sections political, economic, social, and technological. These four words form the acronym PEST and are used to organize trends in the environment (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2007). The political trends Habitat for Humanity face are the changing philosophies and ideologies of government. When government does less in regards to supplying funding through grants and other measures HRH must look elsewhere to obtain funds they would normally be able to secure through those channels. Economic trends are also a challenge for this organization for simply this reason they are non-profit. Non-profit organizations depend on money from government, businesses, philanthropists, investors, and individuals. When there are problems in the economy like the 2008 recession donations become and grants is in short supply so HFH needs to be able to generate income from another source. A counter measure to unstable economy was the opening of the Restore. Restores help Habitat for Humanity to generate income to pay for operating expenses, which covers their basics needs.
Overall Habitat for Humanity has kept up with social and technological trends. They have social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter and have their own website which is updated periodically to keep organizational information current. Also Habitat for Humanity post videos to YouTube and have their own channel that individuals can subscribe to and they openly participant in community activities such as festivals and the local farmers’ market. Technological trends have been maintained as the organization does apply computers and modern communications such as the telephone and Internet. Yet the also incorporate new technologies in the construction of homes save energy and water. In addition whenever possible, Habitat will build efficient housing known as “Green-Homes.” According to Direct Electric Company (2013), “A Green home is a type of house designed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also focusing on the efficient use of energy, water, and building materials” (para.1).
Conclusion
In conclusion Habitat for Humanity has the characteristics of a traditional organizational structure. Profit or non-profit organizations need a budget to function and to continue to deliver services to their targeted population. HFH is a human service organization that is designed specifically to provide services to the community (Lewis et al, 2007). Habitat for Humanity management strategy contains critical components such as planning, designing, developing human resources, supervising, managing finances, monitoring, and evaluating. These components provide flexibility and help the organization to adapt and develop future strategies and plans which establishes longevity in the field.

Reference
Direct Electric Company. (2013). What’s a Green Home? – A Home Energy Q & A – Part 1. Retrieved on October 27, 2013 from http://www.ie-electrician.com/green-home-energy-q-and-a/
Habitat for Humanity International. (2013). About Habitat for Humanity. Retrieved on October 25, 2013 from http://www.habitat.org/how/about_us.aspx
Habitat for Humanity International. (2013). The history of Habitat. Retrieved on October 25, 2013 from http://www.habitat.org/how/historytext.aspx
Investopedia US. (2013). Corporate Governance. Retrieved on October 25, 2013 from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corporategovernance.asp
Lewis, J.A., Packard, T., & Lewis, M.D. (2007). Management of Human Service Programs, Fourth Edition [University of Phoenix Custom Edition eBook]. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks Cole. Retrieved on October 26, 2013 from University of Phoenix, BSHS461 - Building Community in Human Service Organizations website.
Thomson Reuters Corporation. (2013). U.S. poverty rises despite economic recovery. Retrieved on October 25, 2013 from http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/17/us-usa-economy-poverty-idUSBRE98G0PN20130917