Habitat for Humanity - Indian River Habitat for Humanity

Homeownership program Habitat for Humanity partners with families in need to build safe, decent, and attainable energy star rated homes. Our homes are designed to be large enough to meet the needs of our homeowner families while keeping the cost of maintenance affordable. By utilizing the labor of volunteers and future homeowners, using efficient building techniques, and utilizing donated materials, Habitat offers homes to working families with zero interest loans. This model makes homeownership accessible and sustainable for families in need. Attainable homeownership creates stability, reduces stress, and fosters self-reliance and confidence. Studies show that stable homes play a crucial role in healthy child development. When a home supports health, safety, and security, it provides a strong foundation for families to thrive. Homeownership also empowers families to save for the future, invest in education, and pursue career growth, ultimately lifting the entire family. Indian River Habitat launched its ambitious housing counseling program (hcp) with an overarching goal to favorably package a homebuyer to present to a lender for an open market home purchase or to present to Habitat's board of directors for acceptance into the Habitat homebuyer program. Throughout this multi-step process, residents of Indian River County will have the opportunity to receive financial counseling and education to become fully equipped to make informed decisions along the pre-purchase and post-purchase homeownership continuum. The design flow of the hcp is systematic, and it is geared toward reducing or eliminating potential barriers, resulting in the opportunity to deepen and lengthen our reach. Standard hud guidelines and practices are established to direct families through a series of distinct steps, from completing an intake packet to fulfilling the requirements of one of three homeownership paths - an open market purchase, entrance into the Habitat housing program, or ongoing counseling for families that are currently unqualified to purchase a home. Indian River Habitat is confident that this program will help additional families achieve homeownership. In fiscal year 2024, Indian River Habitat for Humanity helped more than 36 individuals and families through our long-term homeownership and financial literacy program and 139 clients received housing counseling services.

Neighborhood revitalization program Indian River Habitat's neighborhood revitalization program (nr) is a focused housing outreach program that offers affordable critical repairs to qualifying homeowners in Indian River County. Through this program, Habitat brings stakeholders together to help residents by responding to the needs across the community among low-to-moderate income homeowners, veterans and seniors living on a fixed income. Through this program, Indian River Habitat desires to create new partnerships and empower residents to revive neighborhoods while enhancing their quality of life.