Affordable housing plays such an important role in building and maintaining strong communities, and Habitat for Humanity of Chester County (HfHCC) has been an indispensable resource for everyone – not just the low-income families it directly serves – since it built its first home in 1989.

We live in a complicated world, but HfHCC’s vision of it couldn’t be simpler: The nonprofit wants everyone to have a decent, affordable place to live. HfHCC brings people together to build homes, and by doing that, it’s building communities and hope.

To say that it just gives houses to poor people is a gross misrepresentation of Habitat’s work. HfHCC’s program serves those who are not able to afford a mortgage by conventional means. Each home is sold to a low-income family – without respect to race, gender, culture, or familial status – using a no-interest, 30-year mortgage for the full purchase price of the home. Habitat homeowners are carefully selected based upon three criteria:

• the need for decent, affordable housing
• the ability to repay the mortgage loan
• the willingness to partner with Habitat by participating in its sweat equity program

“We require 200 to 400 hours of sweat equity from our applicant families as part of their eligibility for Habitat homeownership,” said Chris Wiseman, who was recently appointed Executive Director of HfHCC. “Since 1989, volunteers have provided affordable housing for 154 hard-working families in need of decent, affordable housing.”

More than 90 percent of all non-designated cash donations are used for home construction. Mortgage payments made to Habitat go back toward the construction or rehabilitation of homes for other low-income families in need.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization. HfHCC is always in need of friendly faces to lend a hand on any project, and since there’s more than one way to build a house, there are a variety of opportunities for both individuals and groups to volunteer.

Businesses and corporations are invited to participate in a Team Build Day at a Habitat construction site working together on a large-scale project. It’s a great team-building exercise for co-workers while giving back to the community. No experience is necessary, and tools are provided. HfHCC also welcomes individuals who seek to serve the community.

“Volunteers are truly what allows Habitat for Humanity to operate,” said Becki Patterson, HfHCC’s Marketing and Communications Manager. “Their passion for building at the site, working at the ReStore, and helping with administrative tasks is crucial so that we can keep putting raised funds toward the mission. We could not do this without them.”

HfHCC currently has single-family homes in Coatesville and townhouses in West Grove that are under construction and will be completed when the statewide restrictions are lifted.

Click here to learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Chester County and how you can make an impact.

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