About Habitat for Humanity for San Luis Obispo County

What is Habitat?
Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat has built approximately 30,000 houses around the world, providing over 100,00 people with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

How Habitat Works
Using volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of future homeowners, our partner families. Houses are sold to partner families for no profit, financed through affordable, no-interest mortgages. Mortgages are issued over a fixed period, usually 30 years. Monthly mortgage payments are used to support the construction of more houses through the revolving Fund for Humanity.

Costs of houses differ relative to location and costs of labor, land and materials. The average cost to build a Habitat house in the U.S. is currently $47,000, excluding land. The cost of a Habitat house in San Luis Obispo County is approximately $96,000. excluding land.

People-to-People Partnership
The focus of Habitat's ministry is not simply the construction of houses, but the development and empowerment of people and communities. Habitat is interested in the people involved in its ministry, both the owners of Habitat houses and those involved with homeowners in the construction of those houses. Habitat seeks to break down communication barriers and form partnerships among people from all walks of life.

Ecumenical and Diverse Organization
The board of directors and all committees of the local Habitat affiliate must be ecumenical, a reflection of the diversity of denomination in the area. Also, while Habitat is certainly Christian, it welcomes board and committee members of any faith as long as they accept Habitat's mission, purpose and principles. The board and committees must reflect nationalities, occupations, income levels and age groups. Such diversity offers a wide range of experience and perspectives, and provides a strong base of operation. Committees include: Family Selection, Partnership, Development, Building and Site Acquisition.

Habitat for Humanity, San Luis Obispo County
We became an official affiliate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1997. In 1998, we acquired our first property, in Paso Robles, through a Community Development Block Grant. We completed two homes in 2001 and one home in 2002. We completed our first home in Cambria in 2006.

Just the FAQ's, Ma'am
(Or things you may have wondered about Habitat for Humanity)

Does Habitat for Humanity (HFH) give homes to poor people?
No.  Habitat works with needy people to build simple, decent, affordable houses.  Once the house is completed, the house is sold to the partner family at or below cost.  The partner family makes monthly mortgage payments to Habitat, and that money is used to help build more houses.

What are the qualifications to become a Habitat homeowner?
Habitat homeowners (partner families) are chosen based on these criteria: 

• A need for better or larger housing
• An income between 25% - 50% of median county income
• A willingness to ‘partner’ or work with Habitat by giving 500 hours of labor
• An inability to obtain a home loan through other means
• Residency in San Luis Obispo County
• Satisfactory credit references and ability to make house payments

Where does the money come from to build a Habitat house?
Habitat homes are built with donations of money and materials, and with volunteer labor.  We are not a government agency and depend on the generosity of the community to raise the money needed to build.  Houses (or parts of houses) can be sponsored by groups, individuals, churches, or businesses, which undertake to raise money and supply labor.

Is Habitat part of a church?
Habitat for Humanity was founded as an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry.  Habitat welcomes people of all faiths, or no religious affiliation at all, if they want to help with our goal of providing decent, affordable housing for people in need.

Is the Habitat for Humanity for SLO County part of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI)?
Habitat for Humanity for SLO County was established as an affiliate of HFH International in 1997.  Each Habitat Affiliate is independent and run by local people who volunteer their time and money.  We try to follow the guidelines that have been set up by HFHI - they have far more experience than we do.  We also talk to other affiliates, hoping we can benefit from their experience as well.

Are Habitat for Humanity and People’s Self Help Housing the same organization?
No.  People’s Self Help Housing has been active in this county far longer than Habitat for Humanity.  Both groups work with people to build owner-occupied houses, and both groups require the new homeowners to donate hours in construction of their own and other people’s houses.  Habitat for Humanity serves people with lower incomes.  HFH works with people with 25% to 50% of median income.  People’s Self Help Housing works with people with 50% to 80% of median income.

What happens to money I donate to Habitat?
Habitat is proud that it operates with a very low overhead.  Nationally, from 85% to 90% of every donation goes toward house construction. Money sent to HFHI in Americus, Georgia, and designated for use in this county, will be sent to us.  Donations sent directly to Habitat for SLO County can be designated for “local use only”.  If a donation is not so designated, we give 10% (our tithe) to HFHI.  This tithe money is used to build homes in Mexico.  Money designated for a certain purpose is used only for that purpose.

How many houses have you built in SLO County?
HFH for SLO County completed three houses in Paso Robles in 2001- 2002 and one house in Cambria in 2006. Construction of four homes in Atascadero will begin in 2007.

Has HFH for SLO County done anything else?
HFH for SLO County helped the Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless build the Prado Road Day Center for the Homeless SLO in 1997.  We operate a ReStore Warehouse & Thrift Store in Templeton.  ReStore accepts donations of new and reusable building materials, diverts materials from landfills and the waste stream, and provides building materials at reasonable prices.  All proceeds from ReStore are used to build Habitat homes. Habitat is a founding member of the SLO County Workforce Housing Coalition.  In 2006, we built a “house-in-a-box” that went to a family in Mobile, Alabama that lost its home in hurricane Katrina.

How can I help?
HFH for SLO County is still a small organization.  That means we need help!  Volunteers are needed to work on Committees, to help with fundraisers, to speak before groups to explain what Habitat is all about.  We need help with construction and help to provide lunches for construction volunteers.  We need volunteers to work at ReStore, and we need money.  We estimate it will cost around $95,000 to build a Habitat house in SLO County, and without the money we can’t build.  We are also looking for property – donations of property where we can build Habitat homes.  We welcome opportunities to talk to groups about Habitat.  If your organization or church is interested in hearing about our program, please call the office at 782-0687 and we will arrange to have a speaker come to your group.

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