Jimmy Carter would be proud. Builder Magazine recently ranked Habitat for Humanity International as the sixth largest home builder in the U.S. All but one of the top 10 builders are public companies. Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, is the exception. With 6,032 home closings in 2010, this is the second time Habitat for Humanity has placed in the top 10. In 2009, Habitat for Humanity ranked eighth on the list with 5,294 closings.

The hometown chapter has been a big help. Last year, San Diego Habitat helped 20 families obtain affordable housing. “We’re on schedule to build 18 to 20 more homes this year,” said Chris Marek, the San Diego Habitat’s Chief Officer of Development and Strategy. He says they have another 133 homes on the drawing board, to be completed over the next few years.

“Those are in various stages. What’s nice is they’re in the pipeline so there’s plenty of opportunity. It’s a matter of paring them down to see which are most feasible.”

Founded in 1987, the local affiliate has built 130 homes so far.

San Diego Habitat for Humanity Inc. is a non-profit faith-based organization that builds simple, affordable homes for ownership by local families in need. Habitat partner families are selected on the basis of housing need, willingness to partner with Habitat, and ability to repay a zero percent interest mortgage loan. Current sale prices for San Diego Habitat homes, according to Marek, range from $250,000 to $300,000 dollars.

“Their gross household income,” he says of qualifying families, “has to be from 40 to 80 percent of the median income for San Diego County for the last three years.”

And qualifying families have to be able to put in between 250 and 500 hours of sweat equity. Yes -- they actually do help build their home. “This is a program that we call a hand up, and not a hand out.”

Since its start in 1976, Habitat International has built, rehabilitated, repaired, or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing shelter for more than 2 million people. In 1984 former U.S. President Jimmy Carter swung a hammer in New York during his first Habitat work trip. He’s still going strong; last year, the 27^th annual Carter Work Project was held in October at various locations along the East Coast.

“We’re always looking for more partner families,” says Marek. “There are people who would qualify who just don’t know about this program. We hope that they will come forward and go through the process.”

Builder is the magazine of the National Association of Home Builders and has been conducting the survey since 1984. The Builder 100 list is an annual compilation of the largest home builders in the country.