Our Mission
Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio & Guadalupe Valley is an ecumenical Christian non-profit housing organization working in partnership with God’s people in need to build modest, decent and affordable houses without interest or profit, thereby witnessing God’s love in action. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
What We Do
We Build for Better! Habitat works with families in need who would not otherwise be able to afford a home. Habitat helps them build affordable homes for themselves and their families at no interest and no profit. We are not a charity or a “handout” program, but rather we help families help themselves.
How Our Program Works
Families who qualify for the Habitat program are hardworking families who want to improve their lives and the life of their families. They work side by side with volunteers and Habitat supporters to build decent homes for themselves and their neighbors, in hopes of creating thriving and stable communities. Habitat is committed to empowering each Habitat homebuyer through an emphasis on sweat equity, a strong homeownership readiness curriculum, then by selling the family the home with a zero percent interest mortgage.
Understanding that the Need is Great
There is a severe housing crisis in our community!
Habitat is a great solution for families who work hard but need a little bit of a hand up and not a handout.
ABOUT OUR HOMEOWNERS
We work with families whose total income is between 30% – 80% of the area median income. Families are accepted to the Habitat program based on their need, ability to pay a zero percent interest mortgage, and their willingness to partner. Applicants must be residents of Bexar County or Guadalupe County. Once accepted, program participants are eligible to buy a home from Habitat with a 15 – 25 year zero percent interest mortgage. Families spend hundreds of hours investing in “sweat equity,” where they support and help build their own home and the homes of their neighbors. Monthly mortgage payments are as low as $900, including taxes and insurance.
WHAT IS SWEAT EQUITY?
Sweat equity is work done by the family toward the building of their home as well as the homes of their neighbors. We find that homeowners develop a strong sense of pride upon the completion of their hours as they reflect upon the time, effort, and indeed sweat that they sacrificed for their home. They also begin to develop relationships with the people who will eventually become their neighbors. Lastly, as homeowners work towards their sweat equity, they learn useful home maintenance and repair skills. Along with working on the construction site, homeowners can also earn sweat equity hours by working in the Habitat administrative offices, the Habitat Home Centers, and the construction warehouse. They can even bring lunches to the site for the volunteers as a way of earning hours.
HOW WE ARE FUNDED
Our funding comes through partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations, faith organizations, and civic groups. It costs approximately $145,000 to build a Habitat house, including materials, tools, and supplies (not including land or infrastructure). Habitat relies mostly on private sources of funding to build our affordable houses. Habitat will accept government funding for land acquisition, infrastructure, and site preparation expenses. Since the success of our Home Centers funds our administrative expenses, 100% of every donated dollar goes directly into our building program.
BEGINNING WITH AN END IN MIND
Habitat builds affordable single-family detached homes. We have historically built homes in areas where we can build groups of 5 or more homes in a single neighborhood. Habitat concentrates on both transforming large tracts (18 + acres) of vacant and abandoned land into thriving neighborhoods, as well as smaller infill projects.
BUILDING WITH DURABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT IN MIND
Our homes are built with our partner families in mind. We procure quality building materials and ensure that we build quality homes that will last several lifetimes. Habitat homes are extremely energy efficient and will be affordable for our families to maintain. All homes are built with Energy Star, Smart Energy, and SA LEED features and materials as feasible.
BUILDING WITH FAMILIES IN MIND
We build 3-4 bedroom homes at approximately 1,290 square feet. Homes cost us approximately $145,000 to build. Homes are financed with a 15-year to 25-year, zero-percent interest mortgage. Payments from our families are as low as $900 per month (including taxes and insurance).
