What is Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity?
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that provides affordable housing for hard-working, limited-income families. New homes are built by volunteers who donate their time, money and materials. Each completed home is then sold to a qualifying family at no profit and with no interest.

How are Habitat families selected?
Prospective Habitat homebuyers must have a stable gross annual income of at least $16,000, and must be willing and able to contribute 300 hours volunteering in some capacity with Habitat. No down payment is charged. Typically, income from TANF payments does not fall within Habitat's financial guidelines because of its temporary nature. Applicants undergo an extensive screening process, including credit and criminal history checks. A family selection committee, composed of trained volunteers, selects potential Habitat homebuyers based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan.

What are the purchase terms of a Habitat house?
Upon completion of construction of the Habitat home and the families “sweat equity” hours, the property is deeded to the new homeowner on a zero-interest mortgage note. The term of the mortgage is driven by the house payment, which is set based on income. Each family’s house payment is set at 20 percent of their gross monthly household income at the time of closing. House payments average $400 per month, which includes three escrow deductions for property taxes, homeowner insurance and home maintenance. Payments are often less than what our homeowners were previously paying in rent to live in overcrowded, substandard conditions. All Habitat homeowners’ payments then go to fund construction of more Habitat homes. As they pay back the cost of their homes, Habitat homeowners’ payments are recycled to build more homes for more families in need.

What type of support is offered to Habitat families?
In addition to building homes for limited-income families, Habitat offers a variety of support services for its homeowners. To assist prospective homeowners in making the transition from renting to home ownership, board approved families are required to attend a three-part “Homeowners College,” prior to closing on the house, which covers such topics as legalities of owning a home, homeowner insurance, property taxes, city code enforcement, household budgeting, and home maintenance and repair. All prospective Habitat homebuyers also attend two required trainings at Consumer Credit Counseling Services. Trained volunteers serve as support partners for each Habitat family to provide assistance and support throughout the homebuyer’s Habitat experience. This partnership is formed as soon as the family has been approved for a Habitat home purchase, and continues during construction and throughout the first year the family lives in their Habitat home.

Before a family moves into their new home, Habitat staff members conduct a walk-through audit of the finished home with the family to familiarize the new owners with the home’s systems and routine maintenance needs. Homeowners are given a comprehensive homeowner’s manual that was developed to offer additional informational support. Homeowners are also encouraged to participate in the homeowner associations in their new neighborhood.

How is Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity funded?
Habitat accepts no government funding for its construction and is not a United Way agency. Primary support is received from foundations, corporations, churches and individuals. Because Habitat secures 100 percent of its administrative costs through earned income, all contributions received go directly toward the construction of Habitat homes.

How many houses have been built in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and where are they located?
The 336th Habitat home was dedicated on Feb. 26, 2005. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity has built homes in all four quadrants of Oklahoma City, in addition to houses in Yukon, Moore, Midwest City, Mulhall, Bridge Creek, Edmond and a new Habitat neighborhood in Spencer in which we will continue to build for several years. As the city and county, as well as private individuals, continue to donate properties to Habitat, we will continue to invest in and improve more neighborhoods in the Oklahoma City metro area. Habitat’s goal is to build a total of 40 homes in 2005.

What is your foreclosure rate?
A Habitat mortgage is like any other – house payments must be paid. Central Oklahoma Habitat has had only five of its 336 homes completed to date be taken back through foreclosure. This is an extremely good default rate, better than many banks and other mortgage lenders. Habitat homeowners appreciate the opportunity to purchase their home at cost and at no interest, and they know that their house payments are helping more qualified families get into homes of their own.

What are Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s plans for the future?
The 40 homes Habitat built in 2005 are part of a plan to more aggressively combat the problem of poverty housing in our community. A progressive building schedule has been developed so that each year the number of homes Habitat builds will increase to meet demand until poverty housing is eradicated in the Oklahoma City metro area. Habitat home construction will not only continue to help limited-income families break the cycle of poverty living, it will also help to revitalize many neighborhoods around the Oklahoma City area.

Is Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity associated with a larger organization?
Yes. Central Oklahoma Habitat is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which was founded in 1976. There currently are more than 2,000 affiliates in the United States, which, together with more than 65 international Habitat projects around the world, have refurbished and built more than 100,000 homes for families in need of affordable housing.

What is the Habitat Renovation Station?
The Habitat Renovation Station specializes in the sale of new, used and vintage building supplies and offers items such as lumber, windows, doors, miscellaneous hardware, paint, electrical and plumbing supplies, ceramic tile and many other items. Located at 1800 N. Broadway, the Renovation Station is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The business is open to the public. From contractors, to remodelers, to handymen and women, to curious shoppers, the store has something for everyone. We anticipate that the profits from the Renovation Station will fund three to five new Habitat houses a year.