Habitat Highlights

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry, which partners with low income families to build or renovate houses.

Who do we serve?

Habitat partners with people who meet three basic criteria:

1. Need: Applicants current living conditions must be sub-standard. This may mean the residence has structural problems or the residence is too small for the people living there. It may also mean the family is experiencing health problems caused by the residence.

2. Ability to Pay: Applicants must have a steady income to pay their mortgage. We serve people whose income is between 25% to 50% of the Springfield median income. Currently for a family of four, this would be between $14,025 and $28,050.

3. Willingness to Partner: Applicants must agree to work 250 sweat equity hours per adult in the household (18 years old and older). The maximum hours for a household are 500.

Partner families must also bring $800 to the closing. These monies pay for the first year's insurance premium, closing costs and recording fees. Some workshops/classes are required, including a financial management/budgeting class through the OSU Extension Office here in Clark County.

What are the basics of Habitat's ministry?

• Habitat builds and renovates simple, decent, affordable homes.

• We use volunteer labor to do much of the building. Volunteers also help run our affiliate via

our board of trustees, committees and office help. Our affiliate currently has only three full-

time and one part-time employees.

• Habitat houses are not given away. We sell the houses to our partner families for no profit. The

house price is basically the cost of materials and any paid labor, value for in-kind donations,

value of the land and an administrative fee.

• There is no-interest on the mortgage, and it is through Habitat, not a bank.

How is Habitat funded?

Habitat raises money from individuals, churches, groups/organizations, businesses and grants. In addition, the money from our mortgages goes back into building more houses for people in need. Habitat also seeks in-kind donations, which decreases cash costs.

Habitat can use government funds, but only for paying for land, infrastructure or administrative expenses. No tax dollars are used for the actual construction.

What does Habitat need?

• Prayers to keep this ministry strong and doing God's will

• Volunteers to help build/renovate homes and to serve in leadership positions

• Land on which to build (or houses we can renovate)

• Families who meet our criteria for becoming a partner family

• Donations, cash or in-kind, to help with the costs of continuing this ministry.

"The selection of families who will purchase homes from Clark County Community Habitat for Humanity will be done by the Family Selection Committee in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status, or because all or part of the applicant’s income is derived from public assistance programs.”