Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota

Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota is a nonprofit, Christain ministry dedicated to building simple, decent and affordable housing with and for families in need.

Where Does Habitat for Humanity Operate: Habitat is a worldwide, grassroots movement. Habitat has a presence in more than 90 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

What Are Habitat Affiliates: Habitat’s work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates — independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area — fund raising, building site selection, partner family selection and support, house construction, and mortgage servicing.

Habitat Building History: Habitat has built more than 400,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard & Linda Fuller.

The Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota Affiliate was granted official status on July 1, 1990

• The Mankato chapter was formed in 1989
• The St Peter chapter joined the affiliate in 1994
• The Le Sueur/Henderson chapter joined in 1998
• The Watonwan county chapter was taken over in 2008

To date the affiliate has built 90 homes in South Central Minnesota.

• 52 homes in the Mankato chapter
• 21 homes in the St Peter chapter
• 8 homes in the Le Sueur/Henderson chapter
• 6 homes in the Watonwan County chapter
• 3 homes in New Prague

How Does The Habitat Program work: Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat homes. Habitat homes in South Central Minnesota on average cost $100,000. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest 200 hours of their own labor — “sweat equity” — into building their Habitat house and others.

How Are Habitat Partner Families Selected: Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates. The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat homes.

Who is Eligible for Habitat for Humanity Homes?

Partner families are chosen according to the following criteria:

• Degree of need (safety, overcrowding, affordability and inability to get conventional homeownership)
• Ability to repay the zero interest mortgage (blessing, not a burden)
• Ability to partner (complete 200-400 volunteer “sweat equity” hours, work with family partner, attend classes and homeowner advisory council meetings).

Common Myths: 1) Habitat homeowners can sell their homes and make a large profit Truth: Habitat has special second mortgages in addition to the standard first mortgage. The first mortgage is what it costs to build the home. This is what the homeowner pays back. The second mortgage is the difference between the selling price of the house and its appraised value. Although this is a forgivable mortgage, it doesn’t begin to decline until the 6^th year of payments. 2) Myth: Habitat homes are given away Truth: Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat builds homes for those in need and sells the homes to family partners.

How Can I Help? You Are Needed! No experience is necessary. In fact, helping is a great way to gain experience! Form life long friendships while strengthening your community.

Construction site, help us pound nails!

Volunteer coordination, help us by baking goodies and delivering them to the work site, help us by training in new volunteers and help us recruit.

Join a committee. Help Habitat behind the scenes with Family Selection, Family Partner, Building, Public Relations/Fundraising and the ReStore committees.