What is HYP?

Habitat Young Professionals (HYP) is a diverse group of young professionals who share resources, time and talents to make a difference in the Denver community.

HYP is about having fun and making personal and professional connections throughout Denver, while helping to give hardworking, low-income metro Denver families a chance to finally own a home.

We are a high-energy, motivated group which is committed to volunteering, donating, and spreading the word to our friends and colleagues about Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.


Habitat for Humanity

Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976 during their time at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. At Koinonia, Fuller and Koinonia farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan developed the concept of "partnership housing" as a solution to poverty. The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses. The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.”

The Fund for Humanity’s mission statement said: “What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will meet both of these needs. Money for the fund will come from shared gifts by those who feel they have more than they need and from non-interest bearing loans from those who cannot afford to make a gift but who do want to provide working capital for the disinherited . . . The fund will give away no money. It is not a handout.” As a direct result, Habitat was built on the idea of providing a hand up, not a hand out.

Since its inception, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide. For more information about Habitat, click here.


Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver (HFHMD)

HFHMD was founded in 1979 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Since 1979, HFHMD has built more than 400 homes in partnership with more than 1,700 adults and children in five county metro Denver. Habitat is about more than housing.

These homes are more than roofs and walls. Habitat homes provide opportunities… to gather for meals, to have a safe and quiet place to study, to learn life lessons, and to find peace. Habitat provides the foundation for hard working, low-income people to grow into their full potential.

To learn more about HFHMD’s work, please click here to be directed to the main Habitat Metro Denver website.


HYP has 3 Core Tenets:

Work Hard … pick up a hammer and help out a neighbor.

HYP members will have many opportunities to serve together. For everyone who has said, I always wanted to build with Habitat - here’s your chance. Contributing time and sweat building homes alongside Habitat families in Denver is a unique and fun experience which allows members to see firsthand the permanent impact they are having in their community.

Members are also encouraged to share their experiences with their friends and invite them to join in the fun by becoming HYP members. At Habitat, we say BUILD LOUDER and hope that members will become megaphones… advocating for a community where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.

Play Hard … all work and no play makes no sense!

HYP members will enjoy many opportunities to network and meet like-minded young professionals in the community. Member’s only events will consist of happy hours, sporting events, networking dinners and other HYP events with partners throughout the community.

Give Back… money makes the world go ‘round…

It costs Habitat Metro Denver an average of $162,000 to build a Habitat home in metro Denver. As a HYP member, your $20 monthly donation will go directly to cover the costs of the materials to build a home for a low-income family in our community. Your donation is tax deductible and allows for you to help build it with both your time and your wallet.

Join today and help us reach our goal of funding half a house each year. We promise that you’ll know exactly how your money is being spent and you’ll gain great benefits such as special members only events and Habitat schwag as a thank you.


HYP Leadership:

HYP is a volunteer run organization with a Leadership Team consisting of local young professionals from the community. The Leadership Team meets at least once a month to manage and coordinate the work of HYP and ensure the success of the group. The Leadership Team makes a commitment to serve HYP for two consecutive years and during this time take on the responsibilities of managing build days, coordinating social events and fundraising events, working to find corporate sponsors. All HYP members who are interested in taking their support of Habitat to the next level should consider joining the Leadership Team. All interested individuals should contact Kimberly Urish (staff contact) or Chris Osmond (Chair).


HYP Partners:

HYP is proud to partner with the following organizations: