Fact Sheet
Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity (GAHFH) asks you to join the growing number of corporations, civic groups, churches, and
individuals that support our goal of providing quality affordable housing for working families in need. Please review the following
information that outlines our mission, accomplishments, and current priorities.
Mission Statement: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes,
communities and hope.
Habitat for Humanity: HFH is an ecumenical Christian non-profit organization created to provide access to decent, affordable
housing for working families of modest means. Our mission is to work in partnership with the community and individuals in need to
build a simple decent home. We are affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International, which has built over 500,000 homes around the
world through the work of 1,700 U.S. affiliates and affiliates in 90 countries around the world. Currently, we are the fifth largest
homebuilder in the nation.
Housing Needs: In the greater Greeley area a sector of our population are considered working poor, due to their lower paying jobs.
Because of their low income, families in this sector tend to live in substandard housing and spend between 45 to 70 percent of their
income on rent.
Solution: One solution to this housing problem is Habitat for Humanity. Habitat works in partnership with families with lower income
to build simple affordable housing. A typical three bedroom, 1,248 square foot home costs approximately $115,000 to build. Habitat
houses are built by the homeowners, community volunteers, and skilled labor using tax-deductible donations of money, skills, and
materials. Once the homes are completed they are sold to families at no profit and are financed through an affordable, no-interest
loan. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment, which is kept to no more than 30% of their monthly income, goes into a local
revolving building fund that is then used to build more homes in the Greeley area. In addition to a small down payment and the
monthly mortgage payments, each homeowner family invests a minimum of 500 hours of labor into the building of their own home and
the homes of others.
Habitat Families: To be selected for a Habitat home in Greeley, a family must have an obvious need for improved housing and have
an income that falls between 30% and 60% of the median Weld County income. In addition to sufficient income a family must have a
stable work/income history, and have a good credit history. Additionally, families must be willing to partner with GAHFH and be a legal
resident. Partnership includes two very important elements: the homeowners working together with a family support volunteer on a set
of six lessons dealing with finances and home ownership, and the completion of 500 hours of “sweat equity”.
The homes have between three and four bedrooms and range in size from 1,248 to 1,368 square feet. The homes are sold
to the families at the appraised value. The sale is written using a first mortgage to cover the cost of building the home and a second
mortgage for the difference, or unearned equity, which is forgiven over a fifteen year period.
Habitat Builds More Than Houses: Our philosophy is that shelter is a basic human need and that everyone deserves a simple,
decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity’s goal is to eradicate all substandard housing from the world, not through charity, but by
providing those in need with the capital, volunteers, and skilled labor to help themselves. The benefits of this simple concept do not
end with the sale of the home, but have been found to affect other areas of the
family’s life. The health of the family tends to improve, there is a reduction in domestic violence, children’s grades improve due to a
more stable environment, and family members begin to feel empowered to improve other areas of their lives over which they
previously felt they had no control.
Accomplishments to Date: Since its incorporation in 1987, Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity has built homes in communities in
Greeley, Evans, Eaton, Milliken and Ft. Lupton and Severance. As part of our commitment to build Tiemann Village and Habitat North,
the Board has taken on the challenge of increasing our average construction output from one home per year to four homes.
Tiemann Village: Tiemann Village was a planned, affordable housing neighborhood located just north of 4th Street on 23rd Avenue
Court. Completed in September of 2002, the subdivision provides affordable housing for twenty-two families. Tiemann Village includes
Jimmy’s Park, a pocket park completed in memory of Jimmy Huff, a local dentist, who supported Habitat for Humanity. The park was
made possible by the collaboration of the Dental Association, State Farm, Kiwanis, and the City of Greeley.
Habitat Homes in Milliken: In December 2004, GAHFH completed one home in Milliken.
Habitat North: In the Spring of 2004 GAHFH began construction on the Habitat North community. We moved into the
New Frontier Bank Family Resource Center, made possible by a generous donation from New Frontier Bank. The
purchase of this land itself was made possible by a grant from GURA in the amount of $160,000. In 2009, GAHFH will
have completed 39 home at Habitat North. GAHFH is exceedingly grateful for such an abundance of community support.
This support enables us to assist more families to build homes, hope, and a future. As of the Spring of 2015 we have
completed 55 homes in Habitat North.
Renovating Foreclosed Homes: In 2009 GAHFH began a new phase of construction, which included the purchase of
foreclosed homes. We renovated them and sold them as Habitat homes. GAHFH has renovated 11 homes since 2009.
ReStore (Home Improvement Outlet Store): In October 2005, GAHFH opened a home improvement store in which
donations are accepted and then placed in the store for sale. All proceeds go to GAHFH and assist in increasing the
impact GAHFH may make in the community. Construction products, furniture, and household items are recycled in this
manner and available for the public to purchase. An in-kind donation receipt is provided to the donor. Store hours are
Monday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. If interested in donating to the store, please call 352-1404.