WHO WE ARE:

Habitat for Humanity of Hendricks County (HCHFH) was founded in 1992 by a teenager.  She traveled to Kentucky to work on habitat homes and realized there was a significant housing need right here in Hendricks County. She convinced her parents to help her start our local Habitat affiliate.   One of our Habitat partner families was living in a  renovated chicken coop before becoming a homeowner.  Another was living in a basement apartment with a dirt floor, others often live in drafty leaky dwelling.

We are an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and a tax-deductible nonprofit Indiana corporation.   We typically build about three houses a year. Each house is build primarily by volunteers, with help from professional contractors for installation of foundations, HVAC, electrical and mechanical installations.   Some materials are donated, but most are obtained as a reduced cost.   An average home costs around $55,000 to $60,000 to build.  Including the lot, houses typically appraise near or in excess of $100,000.

            HOW WE OPERATE                             

Habitat is not a charity or give away program.  Habitat builds houses in partnership with families in need.  To qualify as a new partner families, applicants must: 

1. Demonstrate a housing need as determined by Habitat

2. Have a family income between 25% and 50% of Hendricks County median
   family income and have the ability to pay a monthly no-interest mortgage

3. Demonstrate a willingness to complete 360 (married couple)  305 (single parent) sweat equity hours on their own homes and other Habitat projects

4. Be a resident of Hendricks County for one year or more.  

Through tax-deductible donations of money, materials, lots and labor by churches,

corporations, town boards, associations and foundations,

Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of partner families. These

homes  are then sold to the partner family at no-profit and no interest at the

appraised value.   The first mortgage amounts to the cost of construction and the lot and administrative costs.   The difference between the first mortgage and the appraised value is set up as a second mortgage which is forgiven over the terms of the first mortgage. The mortgage payments for the first mortgage are set at a rate the home owner can afford, usually around 30% of the partner families income and normally are for a period of twenty to twenty five years.  These funds are then used to build more homes for future partner families.   

Since our founding in 1992, HCHFH  has constructed twenty homes and repaired others.   We built three homes in 2003,  2004 and 2005 and look to build three more in 2006.   In addition, we  plan to build a fourth house package in September and send it to D'Iberville Mississippi in conjunction with Avon's Hurricane Katrina adopted city assistance project.

OUR ORGANIZATION:

Hendricks County Habitat for Humanity affiliate (HCHFH is an autonomous non-profit 501(c)3 organization that runs its own affairs.   We make decisions locally, raise funds locally and build locally with families in need in our county.  We are governed by a board of directors composed of a diverse group of twelve to eighteen individuals who represent a cross section of our community.   Board members are elected to serve a three year term and can serve two consecutive terms.  Board meetings are held on the forth Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm in the Habitat offices. Committee meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at the Avon United Methodist Church.   No meetings are held in December.

          Officers for 2006 are:

                   President                        Brian  Reed

                   Vice President               Wayne Dimmock                    

                   Secretary                        Susannah Stapp             

                   Treasurer                        Sidnye Georgette            

          Executive Director `                Craig Brighton

          Office Administrator                Betty Obenauf