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Habitat 101

Have you wondered just how Habitat for Humanity works? Maybe this will help.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) strives to build homes that are decent, affordable, and high quality. They sell those homes to homebuyers that have gone through an extensive screening process, at the home's appraised value. Habitat holds a 30-year zero-percent interest mortgage on the home, and requires between 300 and 500 sweat equity hours as a “down payment” from the homeowners. The prospective homeowners also attend at least eleven two-hour home ownership preparation classes offered by TCHFH. If the homeowner sells the home within 30 years, Habitat has the first option to purchase the home. If the homeowner sells the home after living in it for at least five years, TCHFH and the homeowner share in any increase in the home's value.

Workcamp volunteer groups are asked help provide the resources that are needed to build a home. During the peak summer season, volunteer groups are asked to donate $6,000 per week, which can be a combination of cash and in-kind donations. Donations of materials, land and professional services cover 8–20% of the cost of each Habitat home.

Some information from their website ( http://www.tchabitat.org/ ):

As of January 2007, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity…

• Has sold homes to 649 families throughout the metro area. Each year, approximately 50–60 families become TCHFH homeowners, ranking it among the top five affiliates in the country.

• Homes cost an average of $181,000 to build, and have an average of 1,300 square feet.

• Has seen the need for affordable housing continue to grow. For every family that TCHFH serves, it must turn ten eligible families away.

•Has changed its building model, because of rising land and construction costs. Just four years ago, 65 percent of TCHFH homes were single-family. Today, nearly 65 percent of TCHFH homes are multi-family.

• Operates a host of programs to ensure the success of homeownership, to prevent foreclosures, to restore and repair houses and neighborhoods, and to nurture the spirit of community service among youth, congregations, corporations and government workers.

• Each year, over 20,000 volunteers — individuals and teams from congregations, schools, corporations and other community organizations — help make homeownership a reality for a family in need.

So what does that mean for All Saints? It costs $6,000 to have a one-week workcamp. We are currently funded through Building God's Kingdom, at $3,000 per year, so we may have to wait until 2009 to have another Habitat week. Additional contributions could allow us to do it sooner. Questions?
Send a message to habitatinfo@allsaintsmtka.org , or ask Linda Eliason or Bill Turner. Thanks for your interest!