Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity

Program Goals                

1.      Sell Affordable Homes

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity (RAHFH) is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works in partnership with people in need of decent shelter to build simple, affordable houses.  Habitat homeowners purchase their houses through no-profit, no-interest loans while contributing hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” labor working on their house and the houses of others. 

Partner families are selected based on meeting three main criteria.  Their current living conditions must show need of decent housing.  They must prove an ability to pay their mortgage.  Potential families must also demonstrate willingness to partner with RAHFH by agreeing to contribute 300 hours of labor toward construction of new homes along with completing required coursework.

2.   Teach Fiscal Responsibility

RAHFH strives to educate partner families on fiscal responsibility and homeownership.  Participants are required to complete 3 workshops aimed at teaching the importance of establishing good credit, maintaining a checking account, preparing and following a budget, protecting their investment and basic home repair and lawn care.

3.   Community Revitalization

Statistics show that homeowners will put forth a greater effort to improve their neighborhood. Homeowners work with neighbors and community officers to protect their neighborhood. They take pride in ownership and work to improve their property values.

RAHFH homeowners pay an average of $2000 each year in property tax. This money supports local schools, parks, libraries, security and roads.

MISSION STATEMENT - Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. 

Rockford Habitat builds and sells homes at-cost to qualified low income families.  The families receive an interest-free loan from Habitat.  The average mortgage payment is $475 per month for approximately a 20 year loan.

In 2012, Rockford Habitat celebrated completing it's 100th home in Rockford.

Habitat ReStores

Habitat ReStores are retail outlets where quality used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices.  Proceeds from ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat houses within the community.

Our ReStore goals are to:

• Support Habitat for Humanity home building program
• Keep valuable materials out of local area landfills
• Provide the community with a source of low cost building materials
• Provide an opportunity to volunteer at the Habitat ReStore