Who We Help

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity serves low-income families who are looking for a hand-up into a better home situation. We help families who are struggling to get into a home of their own, those who need a helping hand to guide them along, and those who are unable to qualify for a conventional home mortgage loan without assistance.

We partner with families who have the drive make their dream of home ownership a reality. Becoming a Habitat Partner Family is an extensive process that takes both commitment and dedication, and because of this Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity is selective in choosing families.

In the end, each family becomes completely dedicated to owning their own home while continuing to help us assist other families for years to come: each time a family pays their monthly principle mortgage payment, the amount is reinvested back into Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity to support more families into homes of their own.

Requirements

Aside from a family’s willingness to partner with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, they are selected based on their: need for a safer, more secure and affordable home; ability to pay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage back; willingness to volunteer their time; and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity.

Process

Families who apply to become a Habitat Partner Family will be reviewed by our Family Selection committee and Board of Directors, and once approved will begin the process of building a home of their own. All Habitat families will be sold the home at-cost and will be responsible for paying back the no-interest mortgage. The average principle mortgage payment of an Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity home is between $300 to $400 per month. 

Aside from a monthly mortgage, the family is also responsible for paying their property insurance and taxes, thereby reinvesting in the community. To ensure Habitat continues to meet the need for affordable housing in the area for years to come, the home-buying process is structured so that we have the right of first refusal to buy back the home if the partner family decides to move within the first seven years of ownership.

In addition to requirements that each partner family must fulfill, each family is also encouraged to participate in education classes offered by Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity to help them in the transition from renting to becoming a homeowner.

Learn about the families we're impacting in 2010