July 24, 2008 | Read Time: 2 minutes
The San Antonio chapter of Habitat for Humanity has resolved its legal dispute with Habitat for Humanity International over the terms of membership in the organization.
The San Antonio branch was upset by a new agreement that the parent organization asked American affiliates to sign. In January, it sued the headquarters organization, seeking the right to continue using the Habitat name without signing the agreement.
The Texas chapter said it was concerned that the new agreement by Habitat for Humanity International could make it too easy for the headquarters to impose new rules, such as requiring chapters to “tithe” a certain percentage of cash donations in support of housing efforts overseas.
“Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio has now signed the U.S affiliation agreement, and we are glad that we can put our differences behind us and continue to work together,” said Duane Bates, director of public and media relations at Habitat for Humanity International, in Americus, Ga. He says that as part of the settlement, the San Antonio affiliate would not have to comply with any changes made to the agreement in the next three years. No changes are planned at the moment, he noted.
“We are basically waived from any additional fees or policy changes for the next three years and feel that this is sufficient at this time for us to settle and move forward,” said Stephanie C. Wiese, vice president of development and communications at the San Antonio chapter.
New Agreement
Ms. Wiese said she anticipates that her group will continue to be a Habitat for Humanity affiliate at the end of the three-year period. However, the recent settlement also spells out a formal transition process to follow should the San Antonio chapter decide to end its affiliation with Habitat for Humanity International.
“The transition component basically gives us security to know that all of our assets and donor funding will continue to stay building houses in San Antonio,” said Ms. Wiese.
The expanded U.S. affiliate agreement replaces a two-page “covenant” that had formerly outlined a chapter’s relationship with Habitat for Humanity International.
More than 1,400 of Habitat for Humanity International’s 1,600 chapters in the United States have now signed the affiliate agreement, while more than 100 have asked for additional time to review the document, Mr. Bates said.
