MORE THAN Houses
What is Solano Habitat for Humanity?
Solano Habitat for Humanity (SHFH) is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry founded in 1991 by a grass-roots group of Solano County residents with a desire to eliminate substandard housing and
homelessness within their county. SHFH provides a hand up, not a handout.
SHFH is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity® International, Inc., based in Americus, Georgia.
Millard Fuller founded HFHI in 1976, along with his wife Linda. Habitat has built more than 135,000 houses around the world, providing decent housing to 500,000 people. HFHI is the fifteenth largest homebuilder in the United States. Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with individuals in need.
Who does Solano Habitat for Humanity help?
The target market for SHFH-affordable homes is a resident of Napa or Solano County who meet certain income and other selection criteria.
Habitat houses are sold to selected homeowners at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. Individuals in need of decent shelter apply and the SHFH selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. SHFH follows a non-discriminatory policy of homeowner selection.
The typical recipient for a SHFH home has at least one wage earner, a median
income from 25 to 50 percent for this area, the ability to repay a mortgage over approximately 20 years, lived in the county for at least one year, and must be willing to contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” (labor) during the build.
Where is Solano Habitat for Humanity?
SHFH has built seven houses and refurbished one in the communities of Benicia, Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo.
Currently, SHFH has land in Fairfield and Vacaville and is in land acquisition in Dixon, Napa and Vallejo. With the help of prospective homeowners, Habitat builds and renovates simple, decent houses with volunteer labor and donations of money and materials. SHFH is working in partnership with individual volunteers, churches and synagogues, organizations and the new homeowners to build houses and hope in Napa and Solano counties.
Why Is Habitat for Humanity in Napa and Solano Counties Needed?
The need for basic, Habitat-level affordable owner housing is growing at a rapid rate, with an annual need projected at approximately 580 units in both Solano and Napa Counties. With an average
Habitat-level sales price of $85,000, the market for those homes in each county equates to some $49.3 million a year.
Market research and industry sources indicate the overall need for homes affordable to the lowest two levels of income wage earners in our Napa and Solano service area is projected to be 4,117 more units by
the end of 2006.
How does Solano Habitat for Humanity meet the needs of the low-income family?
Habitat, in cooperation with the chosen homeowner, builds a house with volunteer labor and donations of money and material, keeping the cost of building low.
Sweat equity hours constitute the down payment for the Habitat house. Habitat houses are affordable for low-income homeowners because there is no profit included in the sale price and no interest charged on the mortgage. Mortgage length is 20 years.
How can I become a volunteer?
For more information contact SHFH at: (Telephone) 707-422-1948; (Fax) 707-421-0767
110 Railroad, Suite A-3 Suisun City, CA 94585
Updated August 2, 2003
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