Habitat for Humanity opens doors of hope for local families

The United Way of Central Texas is a proud sponsor of the Fort Hood Habitat for Humanity.  The Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity builds houses for low-income families using volunteer labor in the service area of Bell, Coryell and Lampasas Counties of Central Texas. Since 1994, our local Habitat for Humanity has completed 61 homes.

Families are selected based on three primary criteria: income, need and willingness to partner with Habitat. The family selection committee reviews the applications, completes a home visit and verifies application information. Habitat for Humanity follows all fair housing laws during the process of selecting families.

Accepted families then must have the ability to repay.  Habitat for Humanity partner families are low income, but have enough income to make a house payment and pay their bills. They must also be able to perform 300-400 hours of “sweat equity,” which is to help work on their Habitat home and other Habitat family homes.  Finally, they must have a severe need for housing. Where they are currently living at the time is not adequate due either to overcrowding, unsafe or unaffordable housing.

The Average price of a local Habitat home in the local area is $45,000. The homes they build cost less for several reasons. The single, greatest cost of building a home is labor.  The Central Texas volunteers who help build the Habitat homes are a key reason why construction cost is decreased.  By using skilled and unskilled volunteer labor, Habitat is able to save on labor costs. In-kind donations of construction materials also help defray the cost of building these homes.

Once the home is complete it is sold to the family in need.  They are then responsible to pay a zero interest mortgage to reimburse Habitat for Humanity over a 20-30 year time span.  The mortgage payments, minus escrow, are put back into the program to help build other homes for more families. They also pay property taxes, insurance and are responsible for the upkeep of their homes. 

One of the most vital long-term solutions of Habitat homeownership is their accomplishment in breaking the cycle of poverty.   A recent study indicates that a child raised in a safe and secure home is 25% more likely to graduate high school, 59% more likely to live in a safe and secure home when they grow up, and 116% more likely to go to college.

Another affirmative outcome of the Habitat for Humanity projects is the positive impact on the new homeowners. Because of their encouraging experience, they gain greater self-confidence and feel protected with the assurance of safe, decent housing.  It is confirmations like these that continue to draw local Habitat for Humanity volunteers to help those less fortunate within the community.

The United Way of Central Texas helps to ensure that the local Habitat for Humanity has the funding it needs to continue giving in need families, hope for a better future. For more information on UWCT agencies or to make an online donation, visit www.uwct.org . If you would like to give a cash or check gift, send to P.O. Box 1312, Temple, TX, 76503. You may also text “UWCT” to 85944 to make a $5 pledge.