"I helped build it."
20 years of houses and hope
Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County became a Habitat affiliate July 14, 1986. A board of directors and an Executive Director led the affiliate through its first years. In July of 1987 the affiliate received its 501 (c)(3) designation as a non-profit organization. Since its beginning in 1986, 111 houses have been built throughout Elkhart County.
Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, Inc. seeks to eliminate the substandard housing cycle that occurs in low income families and communities. In order to break this cycle Habitat believes that it is necessary to do more than simply provide people with a better place to live they must be empowered to take control of their situations and make a change in their lives. This empowerment is accomplished through educational courses, a hands-on building process and a commitment to walking with the families through their first years of homeownership.
Although Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, Inc. builds houses, the approach taken by the staff and volunteers at Habitat doesn’t start with construction. Before any construction takes place Habitat for Humanity Staff administers educational seminars pertaining to finances, homeownership, parenting, and other life skills. Habitat feels this training is almost more essential to helping them to take control of their lives and make substantial and lasting changes than the actual home. Once armed with the knowledge and skills afforded to them through the seminars they will not only be able to better their lives but the lives of their children as well by passing on the their learnings. Through this we believe that the cycle of low income substandard housing can be broken, as each new generation teaches the next that there is a better way to live which can be achieved with some knowledge and a little work.
Once construction begins it is a hands-on process in which we build a home with, not for, the family. Through the construction process the families learn many different construction skills which will help them in the maintenance of their home upon its completion. The construction process also provides an invaluable opportunity for the families to work side-by-side with volunteers from the community and form relationships with them, giving each individual a window in to the life and culture of the other and building trust between them.
Upon completion of the courses and the construction of the home the family purchases the home from Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, Inc. who provides them with a 0% interest first mortgage and a forgivable 2nd mortgage. This 2nd mortgage is forgivable over 10 years and in conjunction with the 0% interest it allows the families to have a mortgage payment which they can afford.
