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We are honored and proud to announce two new programs to serve more families in Northwest Alabama!
Ramps & Rails is a new community betterment program using volunteer labor to substantially reduce the cost of handicap ramp & rails for qualified homeowner families. There is no charge for volunteer labor. The homeowner pays only for actual purchased materials, services and project support costs through a no interest loan.

A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) will assist low-income families with minor repairs on their homes so they can continue to live in safe, decent homes. A Brush with Kindness projects will provide exterior work that includes painting, patching, minor repair, landscaping or replacement of materials for the purpose of maintaining good or sound condition for qualified homeowner families. There is no charge for volunteer labor. The homeowner pays only for actual purchased materials, services and project support costs through a no interest loan.

How does the programs work?

  • Habitat selects partner families based on income, need and willingness to partner (must complete sweat
    equity hours by working on the project on their home).
  • Habitat affiliates use volunteer labor and donated materials to keep costs low and take no profit for their services.
  • A no-interest loan is made to the homeowner to cover the cost of the project. Payments are placed in a revolving fund to help Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Alabama serve others in need.
  • These programs would not be possible without the generosity of Valspar, the cofounder and underwriter of the A Brush with Kindness program.

Why does Habitat for Humanity offer these exterior maintenance services?

  • Families live in safe and well-maintained homes.
  • Neighborhoods are revitalized.
  • Community connections are made.
  • Affordable housing inventory is preserved.

To apply for one or both of these new programs, please complete and submit application along with all requested documents listed on the application.

 

 

INFORMATION

Here are some basic FYI's about how Habitat for Humanity works. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the organization and how it works.

  • Are Habitat houses given to the families "Free"?
    No, the families have to meet three criteria to have a house built for them. Please
    see qualifications found here(link to ownership page)
  • What do families have to do to get a house built for them?
    Please see qualifications found here(link to ownership page)
  • Is my donation tax-deductible?
    Yes. Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Alabama is a nonprofit organization under I.R.S. section 401C-3. Your donations are deductible excluding any limitations per these regulations.


  • Where is the money I donate used?
    All the money donated to Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Alabama is used to build houses in Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Marion and Winston counties for families in need of adequate shelter. Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Alabama does tithe 10% of the money received to help build house overseas in another country. For every home we build in the counties that we serve, we also build 1-2 houses overseas.

SOME INFORMATION REGARDING HOME OWNERSHIP

Habitat for Humanity of Marion County is currently seeking applications for future habitat homes. Below are conditions which have to be met in order to become a Habitat homeowner.
The family is provided a no interest, no profit loan which they have to repay. The reason the house is affordable is because there is no interest or profit and most of the labor is donated.

Some examples of need are:

  • Inadequate water
  • Inadequate sewer
  • Inadequate shelter
  • Overcrowded
  • Crime

 

Criteria for Partner Families:

For a family to qualify for a house they have to meet three criteria:

1) The prospective Partner Family must be living in inadequate shelter.
There are a whole range of things that classify need - for more information please phone or email.
The prospective Partner Family with the greatest need will have a house built for them, assuming they meet the next two criteria.

2) The prospective Partner Family must have the ability to pay.
Again, the house is not given to the homeowner, they have to be able to pay back the loan. So, they have to have some source of income. The loan is provided to the family through Habitat, not a bank, but the family can default on the loan if they can’t pay.

3) Partnership - The family also has to put in "sweat equity" - in other words they have to work 300 hours to build their own home. This is a very important item. Family members and friends can also help to accomplish some of the sweat equity hours.

 

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