About Us

About Us
Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills (HFHDF) was founded as a 501 (c) (3) corporation in February, 2001 by a group of volunteers who saw a need in the community and believed in the Habitat mission:

We work in partnership with people from all walks of life, building and renovating homes for families in need within our community. We believe that simple, decent, affordable homes improve the quality of life for people so they can live and grow into all that God intended.

HFHDF is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a faith-based, global affordable housing builder.  Staffed and managed locally, HFHDF serves families in the communities of Cave Creek, Carefree, north Scottsdale, north Phoenix, Anthem, New River and Desert Hills. Our mission is to provide simple, decent affordable homes to selected families in need in the Desert Foothills area.  

Since 2001, the organization has successfully built sixteen homes in Cave Creek, creating a presence and public awareness greater than other Habitat affiliates of similar age.  

Frequently asked Questions:

1. Why is owning a home so important for our families?

According to a study by Ohio State University (Dietz, 2003), children experience the most profound effects of housing, whether positive or negative. While disruptive moves during childhood and adolescence are shown to negatively impact school performance, the stability for children in an owned home produces measurable results:
• Higher math and reading scores
• Fewer behavioral problems
• Less incidents of teen pregnancy
• Higher rate of high school graduation.

2. Does Habitat for Humanity give houses to poor people?

Habitat for Humanity builds houses with those in need and then sells the houses to these homeowner partners.  Because of Habitat’s no-interest loans, and because houses are built principally by volunteers, mortgage payments are affordable and available for those unable to obtain conventional financing for a home.  Habitat homeowners typically have incomes that are 30-60 percent of the median income in the area.  They are required to invest an average of 200-400 hours of “sweat equity”—time spent building their home or other Habitat homes.

3. Does Habitat build houses only for minorities?

Habitat builds houses with working families in need without regard to race.  Three criteria drive the family selection process: need; ability to repay a no-interest mortgage over a 15-30-year period; and a willingness to partner with Habitat.  The U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits denying anyone housing on the basis of race, sex, creed, marital status, color or national origin.  The covenant that all local affiliates sign with Habitat for Humanity International also specifies that HFH homeowner families are selected “according to criteria that does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed or ethnic background.”

4. Why do you build in the Desert Foothills?

The 1999 eviction of 12 families from their Cave Creek casitas led to a community-wide assessment which validated the need for affordable housing in the area.  With more than 1200 families who are making less than the median income and more than 800 families in the Cave Creek Unified School District who use more than 30 percent of their income for housing, there is a clear need for affordable housing.

5. Do Habitat houses lower neighborhood property values?

A study by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, The State of the Nation's Housing 2004,   shows that affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values.  In fact, Habitat for Humanity believes its approach to affordable housing can improve neighborhoods and communities by strengthening community spirit; increasing the tax base; and building better citizens through the cooperative efforts involved in Habitat construction.

6. Do Habitat homeowners sell their houses for a large profit because of the original low cost?

Habitat Founder and past President Millard Fuller addresses this issue in A Simple, Decent Place to Live: The Building Realization of Habitat for Humanity (Word Publishing, 1995): “in the two decades of Habitat for Humanity…we have had no history of people selling their houses.  Why?  Because it’s so hard for these families to get the houses in the first place.  It’s like an impossible dream come true.  The fact that they can make a profit is not even an issue because they realize that if they sell it they won’t have a house anymore.  And they wouldn’t be able to make payments the way the world would demand on a new one, since the bank or someone else attempting to make a big profit would now be the lender.”  Special second mortgages that are “paid off” by living in the house, as well as first buy-back option clauses that many affiliates put into their agreement with homeowners, also help alleviate concerns that some people may have regarding the resale of houses.

7. Is Habitat for Humanity a government agency?

Habitat for Humanity International is an independent, nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry.  Habitat does accept government funds for the acquisition of land or houses in need of rehabilitation, for streets, utilities and administrative expenses;  so long as the funds have no requirements that would limit our ability to build each Habitat house as a demonstration of God’s love.

8. Was Habitat for Humanity started by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter?

Habitat for Humanity International was started in Americus, GA, in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife, Linda.  Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn (whose home in Plains, Georgia is just eight miles from Americus) are longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national and international attention to the organization’s house-building work.  They annually lead the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project to help raise not only houses, but also awareness of the need for affordable housing.  Since Carter’s first work project in 1984, more than 1,000 houses have been built in conjunction with the special weeks.

9. What is Habitat’s mortgage structure?

Families pay a first mortgage, the amount and term of which are established to be consistent with our income and housing cost guidelines and market valuation.  The difference between this first mortgage and appraised market value is addressed by additional notes which are subsidized by HFHDF and other agencies.  The notes underlying this subsidy may be forgiven when the family remains in good standing for the term of the first mortgage.

10. How does equity and home value appreciation work for families?

If a family decides to sell their HFHDF home, they recoup all principle paid at closing.  In addition, equity appreciation in the home is shared with the family based on the terms of their mortgage.  HFHDF has first-right-of-refusal to repurchase homes.

11. How does Habitat select families?

We solicit applications from families which we review to identify the need for decent affordable housing, the families’ ability to afford our no-interest mortgage, and their willingness to complete the required hours of “sweat equity”.  We also perform credit and background checks on each family, and we make a visit to the current living quarters of each qualified family to meet them and discuss their needs and qualifications.  Our family selection committee reviews this information and recommends the families we will select for Habitat homes.  Final approval of the selections is made by our Board of Directors.

12. Who is responsible for the upkeep of homes?

Each HFHDF development has an HOA which is responsible for maintenance of common property.  We work with the HOAs and families to encourage pride of ownership and compliance with upkeep standards.

To view our new video, click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYSsjIGBVnw