Frequently Asked Questions
How are families selected?
A family selection committee carefully evaluates each family's level of need, ability to make house payments of around $350 to $400 per month and willingness to become good partners. A family's income must be at or below 60% of the median family income for their county of residence. Most HFH partner families are well below that figure.
Who are we?
We are a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International; an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes for low-income families.
How does the partnership work?
Each adult member of a partner family is required to work a minimum of 200 hours on their own home and 75 hours on other projects of Habitat. New relationships and a sense of community are built in addition to homes when needy and affluent people work together for a common purpose. Another way Habitat works with partner families is to help them develop home ownership and financial management skills by providing new homeowner workshops.
How does the program work?
We use donations of labor, materials and money to build new homes or rehabilitate existing homes in partnership with needy families. Habitat sells the completed home to a partner family for about $60,000 and provides a 0% mortgage. Payments are amortized over 15-30 years.
What is our track record?
HFH-GTR has built over 85 homes since 1987. In 2010, HFH-GTR plans to increase our yearly home production to 10 homes per year.
Does Habitat for Humanity have a high success rate?
The answer is undeniably yes.
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with our partner families, and the communities we build in to form strong ties. Statistics show that safe housing can and does affect families in many positive ways including better attendance at work or school, better health and less doctor visits, less stress/high blood pressure, better esteem and confidence in both children and adults.
During the ongoing partnering it is stressed to our families that we are a "hand" up to a better life, but not a "hand out." Our program has several required classes that must be successfully completed. The classes are designed to teach and empower families to take control of their finances, home maintenance, and other important life challenges.
Because of the care, ministering, and education that goes into each home and family, most of the families we have partnered with over since 1987 are still enjoying their Habitat homes.
Who manages the projects?
Our local affiliate employs a full-time Executive Director, Family Services Manager, Volunteer Coordinator. ReStore Manager and a part-time Construction Manager and ReStore Assistant. Volunteers staff all other positions. Over 100 volunteers serve on the Board of Directors and committees. Several hundred additional volunteers are available to work in the office, on construction crews and on special events.
What happens if a partner family no longer wants to live in their home?
Sometimes partner families decided that they no longer want to live in their Habitat for Humanity home. They may have married, gotten better jobs, or decided to move.
In each mortgage it states that if a family wants to move out or sell their home, Habitat must be given first option to purchase it back. By purchasing homes back, we are good stewards our donor's time, talents, and treasures.
We find that our first right of refusal option is a win-win for both our ministry and our partner families. We get to help another family into decent housing for very little cost, and our partner family got to live in a safe home and then got all their money back.
We are committed to helping as many families into safe housing as possible. We are always excited when a family decides their conditions and life has improved to the point they no longer need to live in a Habitat for Humanity home and we can buy it back. On average the cost of updating a home are minimal, and a new family with serious housing needs is accepted into our program.