Helping working families achieve the dream of owning their own home.
The Problem and Our Solution
Salt Lake County suffers from an extreme shortage of affordable homes, and 47% of the valley's air pollution can be tied to buildings. Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area focuses on both issues through innovative design and unique financing models.
Habitat is Utah's Premier Affordable Home Builder
What makes Habitat homes so deeply affordable? We don't have a profit motive, and we build simple, decent, and affordable homes with the help of our partner families and community volunteers.
These guiding principles keep Habitat homes affordable:
- Modest homes. We build modest homes that meet the basic needs of families. Our homes include basic kitchen appliances (stove, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher), LED lighting, and durable flooring.
- Low Long-term Occupancy Costs. Our energy-efficient home design reduces monthly utility bills, and simple floorplans and exteriors lower long-term maintenance and repair costs.
- No Profit. We sell Habitat homes at cost, without adding in a profit.
- Zero-interest Mortgage. We offer a 30-year, zero-interest mortgage, making the house payment less than rent.
- Sweat Equity. Each adult completes 225 hours of sweat equity, including working on the job site and in the ReStore and taking budgeting and finance management classes. This hands-on experience promotes self-reliance, particularly important for people who have always relied on a landlord for repairs and maintenance.
- Volunteers. Hundreds of companies and individuals participate in our Build Days. Learn more about volunteering.
- Donated Materials. Donated building materials, appliances, and plantings offset costs.
The Benefits of Owning a Home
Homeownership fosters a sense of pride, security, and self-worth. It provides children with stability for success in school and social relationships. It gives parents control over their shelter, a basic human need. It also builds strong neighborhood communities where people have each other's best interests at heart.
LEARN ABOUT OUR RECENT PROJECT, THE FIELD OF DREAMS
Changing Lives
Habitat provides homeownership opportunities to people who had little hope of ever owning a home. Homeownership stabilizes their children's lives, fostering success in school, relationships, and life. Homeownership disrupts intergenerational poverty. Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area has built 117 homes, serving working households that earn 30% to 60% of the area's median income. Read about the Cavrag Family and the Amin Family.
