Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity

Programs: Tacoma pierce county habitat for humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical christian housing organization. Our houses are sold to families in need at no profit through a zero interest mortgage. Habitat is a hand up, not a hand out. Families contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" working on the construction of their home and on the homes of other habitat families. Families are selected based on their ability to pay a modest 0% interest mortgage, their need for decent, safe affordable housing and their willingness to partner to complete the required "sweat equity". Founded in 1985, tacoma pierce county habitat for humanity has built over 200 homes and has housed over 300 adults and 600 children. For each home built locally, we tithe enough money to a habitat for humanity affiliate in a developing part of the world so that they can construct one house in their country too. Each year, over 2,000 local volunteers work with us building homes, working in our office and in the tacoma pierce county habitat for humanity store. Thanks to volunteers habitat for humanity is able to keep the cost of construction low, making habitat one of the most affordable housing ministries in the world. All homes are energy star certified and feature energy efficient appliances and water conserving low flow plumbing fixtures. The homes also receive four star rating through the master builders association's "built green" program and feature insulation levels that exceed building code requirements along with high performance windows to ensure these homes are easy and economical to heat. Tacoma pierce county habitat for humanity builds 15 to 20 homes per year and is currently building in the midland neighborhood of pierce county, gig harbor/key peninsula, east tacoma and in the lakewood neighborhood of tillicum. In addition to building new homes in tillicum, habitat has committed to partner with existing homeowners to help repair and weatherize owner occupied homes by providing no-interest loans and free volunteer labor. We are actively seeking land for future habitat home sites in all areas of pierce county, especially east pierce county. In addition, habitat is making repairs to low-income veteran homes. Though habitat has revenue from home sales this is not cash as home sales are converted to zero percent mortgages. Our programs are funded from grants and donations and homeowner mortgage payments.