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spend more than 50% of their income on housing,” he explains. “On top of the financial hardship, often that housing is substandard and/or overcrowded. Many of these people are just one issue — a car repair, medical bill, reduced work hours — from being homeless.” LAHFH seeks to help meet this challenge by building simple, decent and affordable homes in a partnership with those in need.
Habitat families must show a need, the willingness to partner and the ability to afford a mortgage, Christopher says. The first step is identifying those who might qualify. Usually, LAHFH gets around 50-75 home applications per year, with 15-20 qualifying for the program. “Unfortunately,” he says, “we can only afford four homes this year.” The willingness to partner component means that each adult must complete at least 250 hours in helping build their own home, working on other homes or helping in the ReStore. The qualified applicants must also show an ability to repay an income-based mortgage. Their payments, along with donations, help build future homes. “Families come to us with little hope for the future — they’re not sure how to break the day-to-day cycle,” Christopher says. “When we teach them how to build a wall in their home, it helps them gain confidence and renewed hope. Their ‘sweat equity’ replaces a typical down payment on a home, so it becomes more affordable for them, while giving them a personal stake in the process.” One of the added benefits of partnering with LAHFH is the training provided to each new homeowner. “We know that being a successful homeowner is more than having a home,” he explains, “so part of their partnership is completing classes we provide in finance, how to maintain their home, car and yard, take care of pets, and more.” Those classes are also open to the individuals who may not have made the final cut for a new home.
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:: areawomanmagazine.com