Vision:

A world where every person has a decent place to live.

Youth United contributes to this vision by investing in young people who possess the empathy, knowledge and skill to address the causes and effects of poverty.

Mission:

Habitat for Humanity's Youth United program in Oakland County educates, equips, empowers, and engages persons age 5 to 25 to take the lead in meeting the housing needs of low-income families.

1. Educate: Youth United members learn and teach the causes and effects of poverty housing in Oakland County and Habitat for Humanity's solution to the problem.
2. Equip: Youth United provides access to resources that support action and advocacy. These resources include leadership coaching and training, connections to community leaders and the operational resources of Habitat for Humanity.
3. Empower: Youth United encourages its memners to cast their own vision and direct their own initiatives to accomplish Habitat for Humanity's mission in Oakland County.
4. Engage: Youth United members take action to address the poverty housing problem in Oakland County.
5. Extend: Youth United members become Youth United alumni who continue to support Habitat for Humanity's mission in Oakland County and around the world.

Facts:

• Students from Andover High School formed the first Youth United club in September, 2005
• Youth United chapters/clubs operate at thirteen high schools in Oakland County
• Youth United has raised over $150,000 to build two Habitat for Humanity homes in Pontiac
• Habitat's philosophy is "a hand up, not a hand out."