What do we do?
We build decent, permanent homes for low income families determined to use their regular income, good credit and physical labor to live in a clean, safe, stable environment. Partner families must work a minimum of 350 hours building houses for others and their own home before purchasing their home. Once their sweat equity is completed, Habitat sells the home to the partner family with a 20-year, interest-free mortgage loan.
Important facts about Habitat for Humanity NWHC
- Over 5.3 million families in the U.S. live in poverty housing.
- Habitat relies solely on donations and volunteers to build. The only money we get from the government is an occasional grant to buy land or build infrastructure. All the money for building houses comes from individuals, churches, organizations, businesses and foundations.
- Only 3 cents of every dollar donated goes into administration and fundraising. That means 97 cents of every dollar goes to building the houses!
- North West Harris County has built over 65 houses and counting!
- A common misconception about Habitat is that we give away our houses. Actually, we sell them to the Habitat partner family after they have completed thier minimum of 350 hours of sweat equity. A $500 down payment is required and the mortgage loans are interest free for 20 years.
- The homeowners faithful at paying their monthly mortgage payments. In fact we have a better rate of repayment than a conventional mortgage company. There has been less than a 3% default rate – only 2 houses in 13 years.