Habitat for Humanity sued by affiliate

The oldest chapter of Habitat for Humanity has sued the international organization, saying an agreement being imposed on U.S. affiliates could force the chapter to give up its name and locally raised donations.

The suit asks that Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio be allowed to continue using the "Habitat for Humanity" name without signing the agreement, which deals with how the 1,700 chapters of the Christian charity interact with the groups overseas.

Each chapter operates as an independent nonprofit that raises money, organizes volunteers and selects families for low-income housing in its community. The affiliates share the name, grant and training programs, and are asked to "tithe" 10 percent of their revenues to Habitat affiliates overseas.

But the tithe hasn't been mandatory, and the San Antonio affiliate historically has only given about 1 percent to overseas groups so it can build more houses locally, said Arthur Cavazos, a spokesman for the San Antonio chapter.

The group fears the new agreement could give the international organization, which is based in Americus, Ga., power to force affiliates to give the 10 percent, which would amount to about $600,000 annually, or the cost of building 10 homes in the city. The homes, sold to families with no-interest loans, are mostly built by volunteers.

"Why try to run it now like a corporate franchise?" Cavazos said.

"This is contrary to the mission of the original founding," he said.

Duane Bates, a spokesman for the international group, said the board asked affiliates to sign the agreement to help formalize relationships between the international and U.S. chapters as the charity has grown. He said it does not make the 10 percent tithe mandatory.

"The affiliates are local and autonomous, and that remains true," he said.

He declined to comment specifically on the litigation, but he said Wednesday that a majority of affiliates have signed and returned the agreement. He could not say how many remained unsigned.

The group's staff has been contacting unsigned affiliates, but no decision has been on what will happen if an affiliate refuses, Bates said.

A board member and senior staff member of the international group plan to meet with the San Antonio chapter's board on Jan. 22.

Other affiliates have expressed concern about the agreement but haven't sued.

The New Orleans chapter, which has been constructing a high-profile development for musicians and others displaced by Hurricane Katrina, has expressed concern about the agreement to the international organization and has not yet signed, said spokeswoman Aleis Tusa. The chapter still hopes the concerns can be resolved, she said.

The San Antonio chapter has not sought to involve other local affiliates in its legal action, Cavazos said.

"We're not trying to foment rebellion among the affiliates. This was an independent decision," Cavazos said.

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On the Net:

Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio: http://www.habitatsa.org/

Habitat for Humanity International: http://www.habitat.org/