Habitat families are equal partners in our mission, working 225 hours to help build their home.  In addition to their 'sweat-equity' requirement, they must attend financial counseling and homeownership-based training and, work to repair their credit (delinquent debt to be paid before settlement).

It costs Habitat $105,000 - $120,000 to build a house here in New Castle County ($50,000 of the cost is for materials needed for framing, siding, roofing, drywall, cabinets, etc.)  Habitat receives tons of donated materials every year (24 tons in 2005) but, the majority of it cannot be used in the homes.  Habitat sells those donations at a discounted rate in the ReStore, a resale shop that helps Habitat raise additional dollars to build houses.  The other $50,000 is made up of the land cost ($15,000 on average), the contractor costs for excavation, foundation, finish drywall, plumbing and heating, driveways and sidewalks ($20,000) and the construction overhead ($15,000), which includes construction/program staff, trucks, insurance, gas, etc., Habitat sells the house at the construction cost to Habitat Families.

Habitat offers 0% interest mortgages to homeowners and recovers 100% of funds through mortgage payments.  Habitat does not subsidize the cost of a house or, make a profit.

A donation to Habitat helps build a house today and, because Habitat is holding the mortgage, these principal payments are "recycled" helps to build future homes.  Habitat has completed 110 homes to date; those principal payments will total of over $180,000 this year; almost the cost to build 2 Habitat homes!

Habitat builds year round, no matter what the conditions.

The relationship between local Habitat affiliates and Habitat for Humanity, International (HFHI) is unique.  HFHI provides operation guidelines; however, each affiliate is independent.  Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County is a 501(c) 3 organization that raises all money locally here in New Castle County and tithes 10% of all unrestricted funds to affiliates abroad, currently in India and Egypt.  Habitat relies solely on local support to achieve its mission and goals here in New Castle County.  (Did you know that someone who donates to HFHI can designate their funding to New Castle County?  It's easy...enter code 1801 when sending in your donations.)

In 2006, Habitat completed 20 new Habitat homes and engaged over 2,500 volunteers on its construction sites. In 2007, we were ranked the # 1 affiliate in the Northeast of over 210 affiliates from Delaware to Maine (in terms of housing production). Habitat dedicates $.93 of every dollar toward building homes.

Currently, Habitat is working to recover neighborhoods in 11th Street Bridge, Eastside, Eastlawn, Gander Hill, the Vandever Avenue areas in the City of Wilmington and in E. Lake Street in Middletown; communities in dire need of recovery and elimination of blight.

Habitat's impact on families is astounding.  We see homeowners return to school, develop new confidence and secure better jobs. We learn of improvement in their children's school performance and about homeowners' children who want homeownership for themselves. We see families long robbed of hope believing again in themselves, in others, and in the future.  Habitat helps short circuit the cycle of poverty for many of our families.

Over 7,300 people live in substandard housing conditions in New Castle County.  Habitat is responding to this need by doubling the amount of homes it builds every year (on average, 8 to 12) to 20+ houses a year for the next five years, for a total of 105 more homes.

As more people in the community learn about how Habitat builds, where Habitat builds and just how they can be a part of this exciting housing mission, the Board, staff and key leadership hopes many more individuals, companies, civic organizations and faith-based groups will be inspired to help and seek out ways to build a partnership with Habitat.

Yes!  Simply enter our organization code: 9034