Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI).
Habitat CFC is an independent, locally run, IRS 501(c) (3) organization, headquartered in Bridgeport and working throughout Coastal Fairfield County. Habitat CFC was founded in 1985 as Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bridgeport, and has now expanded into Habitat CFC with outreach beyond the greater Bridgeport area.
Habitat CFC activities in the local area include more than just building homes for deserving families, we manage the construction, provide mortgage banking services for homeowners, perform real estate site selections, build community partnerships, fundraise, and select and support deserving, qualified families with social services.
In 25 years, Habitat CFC built more than 160 homes for nearly 700 family members living throughout Bridgeport and Stratford.
Habitat CFC expanded into Stamford in 2009 with an eight-unit condominium. For the first time in its history Habitat CFC built simultaneously in three communities
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing. It achieves this goal by working with people of all backgrounds, races and religions and building homes together in partnership with families in need. Below are some interesting background facts about Habitat for Humanity International.
Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.
Most famous volunteers: Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn, his wife.
A presence in nearly 90 countries and all 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Over 500,000 homes built around the world, providing affording housing for more than 2 million people in 3,000 communities.
Habitat’s mission is a hand up, not a handout — qualified families purchase Habitat homes with 500 hours of “sweat equity” and are responsible to repay no-interest 20-to-30-year mortgages.
Partnership is the key to Habitat.
Everything is centered on helping families in need obtain and sustain a simple, decent place to live.
Habitat believes every man, woman and child on the face of the earth has a right to a simple and decent place to live.
Across-the-board partnerships — individuals, corporations, foundations, faith-based and civic groups, schools, young professionals as well as local and state governments — work with families to transform their lives through homeownership.
The Habitat model works.
Houses are built and/or restored with volunteer labor and materials and privately and publicly donated funds in partnership with a qualified low-income family.
Volunteer labor at “builds” are tied to donation levels so that homes can be paid for, funding can be reinvested and opportunities for more home ownership can continue.
When completed, the houses are sold with a no-interest mortgage to a low-income qualified family at our cost of building.
Habitat holds the mortgage, and principal payments are reinvested to build more homes for families.
Monthly payments consist of principle, insurance and taxes — no interest is charged.
Habitat is only program in Coastal Fairfield County offering a homeownership opportunity to people earning 60 percent or less of area median income (AMI).
Some 80 percent of houses are built by volunteer labor with various skills under the expertise, supervision and guidance of the professional Habitat staff. The remaining 20 percent are sub-contracted to licensed professionals.
Habitat houses are largely funded through private funds — $150,000 full house sponsorship in Bridgeport/Stratford and $250,000 full house sponsorship in Stamford. Levels of sponsorship start at $10,000.
Habitat is a “hand up,” not a “handout.”
Habitat is not a home give-away program.
Monthly mortgage payments are required and are the responsibility of the homeowner.
Homeowners invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” into building their own and other Habitat homes as well as in attending education programs on homeownership and financial management.
Families become Habitat partners and homeowners, based upon three criteria.
Need for simple and decent housing. Need is defined as paying more than 30 percent of income on housing, poor and rundown buildings, overcrowding, rodent-infested and blighted buildings, etc.
Ability to pay the zero-interest mortgage Steady job, income no less than 35 percent or more than 60 percent of AMI, depending upon family size.
Willingness to partner by volunteering 500 hours of “sweat equity.”
Homeowner affordability is protected.
Typical sales price of a HABITAT CFC home in the Bridgeport area: $125,000 / Stamford area: $250,000.
Habitat CFC takes a second “silent” mortgage (25-30 years) on the difference between the market value and the sales price which ends when the first mortgage is completed in full term, with no payment from the homeowner.
Should the homeowner sell or refinances before paying off the mortgage, the remainder of the first and the full amount of the second mortgage is due to Habitat CFC.
On houses sold after 2004, Habitat CFC places a right to repurchase. During the length of the first mortgage, if the homeowners want to sell, they are obligated to sell the house back to Habitat.
The benefits of homeownership are transformational and go well beyond affordable housing.
Children of low-income homeowners are 20 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 12 percent more likely to attend college.
Some 16 percent are less likely to become pregnant as teens.
Some 50 percent of their children, when adults, move into home ownership as opposed to renting, thus contributing to their communities’ tax base.
Investments in affordable housing can have a transformational effect on the community, attracting other housing, businesses and investments. Habitat CFC’s renovation of an historic building on Bridgeport’s William Street is the affiliate’s most recent example of this type of neighborhood improvement.
Volunteers and donors make the model work.
Volunteers are needed on construction sites and at Habitat CFC’s warehouse; work days are Tuesday through Saturday.
Non-construction volunteer opportunities are also available, including committee work, media and website assistance, office support and working at our ReStore (see below).
To volunteer, call Volunteer Services at 203-333-2642 ext 102 or click on the Volunteer Now link to the right.
Your donations of cash, stock and services are urgently needed and welcome.
Send a check made out to Habitat CFC and mail to Habitat Office, 1542 Barnum Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06610. Or give by credit card online by clicking on the Donate Now secure link at the right. Or for questions regarding special gifts please call the office at 203.333.2642.
Donations are used as designated by the donor. Designated gifts fund buildings, homes or other donor-specified projects that are among Habitat CFC’s priorities. For designated gifts, Habitat CFC uses a percentage — 16% in 2010 — for project support and administration. This percentage, which may change from year to year, is tied to the organization’s IRS Form 990. Undesignated gifts are used where most needed as well as for funding the mission, an excellent staff and systems, leveraging and investment opportunities, innovations and gap funding.
Habitat ReStore….what is a Restore?
Our ReStore is a retail store that accepts donations of, and then resells, new and old furniture, appliances and building materials. Profits are reinvested in more affordable housing. In-state pickup of your donations is available.
Phone: 203.383.4358
Store location: 1785 Stratford Avenue, Stratford
Store hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
