12 Facts About BAHfH

 Twelve Facts About Bend Area Habitat for Humanity

1. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Bend Area Habitat for Humanity seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the area, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
2. Habitat for Humanity does not give homes to people; we sell them to families at affordable prices. The price is based on the cost of the land, the cost of the infrastructure improvements and the cost of the building supplies.  All the labor for the building is donated.  Homes in the year 2007 were between $90,000 to $110,000 depending on size.
3. Habitat finances the home and sells it to the family at zero profit and with a 0% interest loan for 20 years. Generally the cost of the home (principal, taxes and insurance) is lower than the family�s current rent by a significant amount.
4. Families are selected with these criteria in mind:
   1. Are they currently in substandard housing?
   2. Do they have the ability to pay the mortgage?
   3. Are they willing to partner with habitat by providing sweat equity?
5. Families need to make 35% - 60% of the Deschutes County median income in order to apply and must not have a debt to income ration that exceeds 40%.   For a family of 4 with one wage earning, that would translate to the earner making between $9.90 - $16.97 per hour.
6. Sweat Equity offers a family the opportunity to commit to the Habitat Community by working on building their home and homes for others when they might not have a down payment in cash as a firm commitment.  Families provide between 400-600 hours depending on whether it is a one or two adult household.
7. In supporting the building of a Habitat home in Bend, 100% of your donation to that home will go to the building of the home for the family.  None of your donated funds will go to administrative overhead.  All one needs to state is whether or not they want their donation restricted to a specific home build.
8. Bend Area Habitat for Humanity has been building homes in Bend since 1989 and to date has completed 72 homes.  In the next fiscal year, Bend Area Habitat for Humanity plans to build ten homes for deserving families.
9. Children living in Habitat homes, as compared to those who are living in rental housing, tend to score better in math and reading, have a greater chance of attending college, have less chance of experiencing teenage pregnancy, and have less involvement with the juvenile justice system.
10. Habitat offers a �Hand Up, not a Hand Out�.  Many of the homeowners have used their greater sense of stability and security to improve their personal and profession lives.
11. Last year Bend Area Habitat for Humanity received volunteer support exceeding 35,000 hours on the construction site, in support of families, and at the Habitat ReStore. Bend Area Habitat for Humanity values a person�s commitment of time equal to their commitment of money or in-kind donations, toward the cause of improving the amount of affordable housing in Bend.  We accept all people no matter what their skill level and help them gain the skills they need to contribute in their area of interest.
12. Bend Area Habitat for Humanity could not continue to create homes for deserving families without the commitment from the faith community, local businesses and organizations, government support, and the generosity of spirit from individuals hoping to make a difference in their community.

Click on a link for more information about homeownership opportunities, way in which you can volunteer, or types of donations that Habitat accepts, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE to call us at 541.385.5387