According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 600,000 persons in the United States are without a home. New York City is by no means immune to the crisis, with over 55,000 of its own inhabitants currently utilizing the NYC shelter systems. Lack of secure housing stands as a major cause of various other social problems such as the deterioration of mental health and drug addiction. Aiming to curb this growing trend of homelessness and all its tangential problems, Habitat for Humanity tackles this issue directly by constructing safe, affordable homes. The Columbia University Chapter, in collaboration with Habitat NYC, continues to contribute to the greater effort to provide houses for those who need them most.