SAN DIEGO -- 10News learned Habitat for Humanity is now forcing local volunteers to pay before they can help build homes.

When Habitat for Humanity recently built a home in Carlsbad, members of an East County mother-daughter volunteer group called SPRITES were among the volunteers.

Mother Patricia Gallo and her daughter Morgan say they will never volunteer for that experience again.

"It doesn't make any sense to me," said Patricia Gallo. "I'm very frustrated."

Morgan Gallo said, "I can't even explain how upset and frustrated I am with this policy."

10News has confirmed the local Habitat for Humanity has begun charging all groups of 5 people or more $100 per person to volunteer. That means a group of 15 volunteers will have to pay $1,500.

A Habitat for Humanity volunteer who helped coordinate volunteers said he quit in disgust.

"I was disgusted, then angry, then disgusted again," said the volunteer, who was only identified as Josh. "It felt very much against their mission of helping out and giving back. A lot of people within the group think it's a bad idea."

When asked if the new policy was against the spirit of Habitat for Humanity, the group's officer of development and strategy Chris Marek replied, "I don't think so at all. The spirit of Habitat for Humanity is to put people in homes."

The non-profit group's leaders said building materials are getting more expensive amid the looming threat of losing redevelopment funds.

"We have to be creative to find ways to increase funding," said Marek.

This year, 22 homes will go up. The group plans to increase that number to 35 in 2013, but that will cost money.

The group compares the new policy to various run-walk events that also charge.

One teen said she doesn't buy it. She said the run-walks are fun and meant for exercise, not for manual labor.

"This is morally wrong," she said. "I'm already doing labor. I'm doing the work. I don't understand why I'm paying for it too if it's something I can't afford."

Habitat for Humanity said it has seen a surge in large corporate donations since the policy began in January.

Since the group set up shop locally in 1987, it has built 130 homes in the area.