Here in La Plata County, Habitat transforms lives by building homes and providing hope for a more secure and stable financial future.
Your donations today will support our mission to provide home ownership to La Plata residents by supporting the cooperative efforts of volunteers, Habitat families, and industry partners to build high-quality, energy efficient affordable homes.
Spring 2024 we plan to break ground on two more homes in the Fox Farm Village neighborhood of Bayfield, CO.
Bryn Gonzales-Ellis
"Since my mother and I moved into our Habitat home in Durango almost 9 years ago, our life together has improved and developed in so many wonderful ways. The security and comfort of having our own home has meant so much to our health and happiness. I know that when we lived in an apartment my mom worried constantly about having enough money for rent and all the other expenses of raising a child on your own; Habitat changed that for us. These past four years while I have been studying at Brown University I have known that I don't need to worry about my mom because she is safe and secure in a home that she loves. For me, our home has been my safe haven as well, the place I know I can always come home to.
There are two things in particular about my experience with Habitat for Humanity which has had the most impact on my life and my success. The first is learning from a young age that people are capable of the most amazing generosity and selflessness, and that the kind of human kindness and compassion which Habitat, its volunteers, and the whole community showed to my mother and myself is far more powerful than the adversity which kept us down for so many years. This organization helped me to understand from early on the potential there is in this world to positively impact the lives of others.
The second thing which has most impacted me has been to see the strength, resilience, and pride my mother has shown throughout the years. She worked tirelessly and passionately to make our dreams of having our own home come true. She helped others build their homes with great fervor, and when our home was under construction she was underneath every wall raising it towards the sky. My mother taught me that adversity does not come in the way of dreams if you have the strength to overcome any hardship. Habitat has given my mother an amazing gift, the gift of pride in her accomplishments. She is the most amazing woman I know, and I am lucky to have her has the role model who has taught me the most about how to live this life. Habitat was a huge part of that most precious of lessons."
Update: Bryn wrote this over 3 years ago...she received a full-paid scholarship to Brown University. ALSO, recently received a full-paid scholarship to Brown's Medical School.
Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County brings people together to build homes, communities and hope for a brighter future.
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County (HFHLPC) was approved in 1994 as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Our affiliate organization was formed to address the need for affordable housing in La Plata County. We have built over 70 homes since our inception and our next two homes will begin in Spring 2024.
Our mission is to provide homeownership to those with incomes between 30-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The majority of La Plata County's workforce earn in this range including teachers, law enforcement, hospitality, firefighters and EMS, construction, and more. These people and their professions keep our community afloat, and it is our goal to make homeownership more accessible and security a reality.
HABITAT LA PLATA SELECTS OUR FAMILY PARTNERS BASED ON:
1) NEED- currently living in unhealthy or unsanitary conditions, unsafe neighborhood, overcrowding in the home, unaffordable rent.
2) WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER- homeowners are required to complete a homebuyer education and invest in their home with 250 hours of "sweat equity" working alongside other volunteers. Habitat of La Plata has implemented a policy allowing the homeowner to recruit family and friends to work 180 of their required hours.
3) ABILITY to qualify for the mortgage and purchase the home with a mortgage payment capped at 30% of their income.
For a family of four, the annual income range to qualify for the mortgage facilitated through Habitat of La Plata is between $31,150 and $83,050 which is too low for traditional home loans. Qualifying for a Habitat home based on this income, and with a capped mortgage, gives families the ability to channel their income to other expenses such as food, auto, transportation and medical needs.
Creating stronger communities and building relationships comes from not only giving families a place to call “home”, but also through the collaboration and teamwork of future homeowners, volunteers, and industry partners. It is our desire to offer a lift-up and not a hand-out, leading to improved self-esteem, sense of accomplishment and independence.
Organization name
Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County
other names
HFHLPC
1994
Tax id (EIN)
84-1284358
Category
Housing & Shelter
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
50 Design Center RoadLa Plata County, CO, US
Phone
1 970 382 2215
Other
970-382-2215
Other
970-382-9931