The agency provides housing services for individuals in the San Gabriel Valley. Services include building supplies/materials donations program, low cost building/material supplies, low income home loans, and sweat equity programs. Services are restricted to Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Atwater Village, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, Duarte, Eagle Rock, El Monte, El Sereno, Glendale, Highland Park, Irwindale, La Canada, La Crescenta, Monrovia, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Montrose, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Moreno, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Sunland, Temple City and Tujunga.

The agency builds home and sells them on a no-profit, no-interest loan basis to qualified low-income families who cannot qualify for conventional loans. It also recruits and utilizes volunteers to accomplish its goal. This is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry whose goal is to eliminate poverty housing from the San Gabriel Valley.

Applicants must currently live in overcrowded or substandard housing; be unable to locate affordable housing or qualify for a home loan; reside in current housing or work for at least two years; have legal status to live in the U.S.; meet income guidelines; agree to make monthly payments; and work with the program to help build their own house and houses for others or to work in related community service. Neither race nor religion are factors in the selection of families who are assisted in the San Gabriel Valley community in which the houses are being built.

The program builds homes through donations of money, materials and volunteer labor. Selected families participate in the construction of their house and make small monthly mortgage payments over an average of 30 years to repay the loan. The organization uses these funds to construct more homes.

The agency also operates two Home Improvement Stores called the ReStore. The store’s inventory includes surplus materials from construction projects, donations from people who are remodeling their homes and items from manufacturers’ over-stock. All donations are tax deductible, and the donors are given a receipt from Habitat. The store is always in need of windows, doors, cabinets, ceramic tile, electrical supplies, new and old hardware, kitchen and bathroom sinks and bathroom vanities, bathtubs and hardwood flooring. They are unable to accept used appliances, used toilets, upholstered furniture, office equipment or furniture, hollow-core doors and sliding glass or mirrored doors. All donated items are sold at reasonable prices and the proceeds go to supporting the work of the agency. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Call for housing information or the ReStore for donating building materials. Housing applicants must complete a written application and provide three references and proof of income. They also participate in interviews with the program staff. People are selected for home ownership on the basis of need, willingness to become partners in the program, and ability to repay the loan. FEES/PAYMENT SOURCE There are fixed fees; participants repay the no-interest loans in monthly payments over a fixed time period. They are also expected to make a 1% down payment and to contribute an average of 500 hours of work with the program. The amount of the loan depends upon the costs involved in the construction of the home. There are no fees for volunteer opportunities.
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00AM-5:00PM.