No. HFHWC does no encourage handouts, but does seek ways to aid families living in substandard housing or who are unable to afford suitable housing by providing homes with no-interest mortgage payments to families in the 30 to 60 percent median income range. Partner families must go through a detailed application process to establish their ability to pay for a home, must put in 250 to 350 hours of "sweat equity" on their home and attend financial counseling, as well as homeownership and home maintenance classes.

HFHWC serves all Whitley County residents regardless of race, color, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or religious affiliation. While HFHWC is a Christian-based organization religious affiliation or lack of affiliation has no impact on the family selection process.

Of the 20 houses our program has built only one has been foreclosed due to the homeowner's death. Because of the medical expenses and lack of health insurance prior to the homeowner's death the result was an insolvent estate, thus our only legal remedy was to foreclose.

In the United States the average cost of a Habitat home is approximately $75,000. The Habitat home provides basic, safe, affordable housing using standard, efficient but not elaborate building practices. A traditional Habitat house is a one-story, three bed, one bath structure, built on a slab with 1,100 square feet of living space.

Simply contact our office by phone, fax or email for more information.

HFHWC benefits partner families by providing educational opportunities in order to create a higher standard of living for themselves through such programs as financial counseling, as well as homeownership and home maintenance classes. We also provide many partner families handicap accessible homes for disabled family members. Additionally nine of 14 previous partner families we have served have reported higher grades among their children since moving into their new home. Our affiliate strives to reach out to our community and provide Christian service, not simply build homes.

HFHWC selects its families on a tree tier set of criteria. First the family must have a need for housing and complete the application process in full. Second, they must have the ability to pay for a Habitat house and a reasonably good credit record. Third, they must be willing to meet the obligations of a partner family including completing a set number of "sweat equity" hours and attending financial counseling, as well as homeownership and home maintenance classes.

Because we are a non-profit organization our funds come from donations either by organizations, businesses or individuals, as well as our "revolving fund" a concept where no-profit, zero-interest payments by partner families fund future Habitat homes. Often materials are donated by businesses or individuals that reduce the costs of building a home. In addition volunteer labor and "sweat equity" hours add the labor base reducing construction costs.