As
a non-denominational housing ministry,
Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity (LAHFH)
is a venture based on faith in God. We depend
upon the support of individuals, businesses,
corporations, churches, synagogues and
private foundations who believe what we are
doing is valuable to the well being of our
community.
Habitat renovates and builds new homes at significant
savings using volunteer labor and donated materials
whenever possible. This low cost community approach to
construction provides homes for families with incomes
too low to qualify for conventional mortgages or FHA
loans. We are a partnership building program, a hand
up-not a hand out. All families entering into a
partnership with us must meet our criteria and are
carefully screened by our selection committee. Families
must spend 500 hours working on their home as
well as other Habitat homes.
Habitat
for Humanity International was incorporated
as a tax exempt, not for profit organization
in 1976. LAHFH received its affiliation from
Habitat for Humanity International in 1986.
We have successfully joined as partners with
42 families have purchased homes from us and
live in Lancaster City and County.
Our
success during the past ten years encouraged the LAHFH board
to increase our vision. The board developed a mission to create
a Habitat community, Emerald Valley, in Lancaster City. We purchased
9.7 acres of undeveloped land in Lancaster to build 62 single
family homes for low income qualified families. Fifty churches,
individuals and some businesses are willing to fund these homes.
However, we still need more help from many sources.
The
families who purchase these homes will
benefit by being home owners and will face
all the responsibilities of homeownership.
LAHFH assists these families to achieve self
reliance in several ways. A partner from the
Habitat Partnership Committee is assigned to
aid his/her family during the construction
period and at settlement. The family is
taught skills needed to work on their house,
provided assistance with budgeting,
instructed on how to make simple repairs and
taught how to get more complicated repairs
fixed by contractors. The partner truly
assists this family to become a self-reliant
homeowner.
We
measure success by the number of houses that we have completed
and sold to families. We have successfully built and renovated
homes which are now occupied by Habitat families. There are
ten houses currently under construction and families are awaiting
their completion to purchase them and become first time homeowners.
