You've come to the right place to learn more about Avery County Habitat for Humanity and get answers to these commonly asked questions:

What is Avery County Habitat for Humanity?

What does Avery County Habitat for Humanity do and how does it work?

How are partner families selected?

Where are Avery Habitat's houses built and who builds them?

How big is a Habitat house and how much does it cost to build one?

How does Avery Habitat get money to build houses?

How can I become involved with Avery County Habitat for Humanity?

Is there a housing problem in Avery County?

Who are the people who cannot afford housing in our community?

  What is Avery County Habitat for Humanity?

Avery County Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry seeking to eliminate poverty housing, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together to build houses with families in need. Since it's start in 1991, Avery Habitat has built 30 homes, changing the lives of over 133 men, women, and children.

  What does Avery County Habitat For Humanity do and how does it work?

Habitat for Humanity is not a charity or a give away program. Habitat for Humanity builds houses with Avery County families in need. Volunteer labor is used to build houses to keep building costs low for Habitat families. Partner families pay a down payment and a monthly payment on a 0% interest 20 year mortgage. They also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor -- sweat equity-- into building their own houses and the houses of others. As Habitat homeowners pay their mortgages, the money goes into a revolving fund that helps build houses with other families. Avery Habitat tithes 10 percent of contributions to help build houses in Guatemala.

  How are partner families selected?

We accept applications from local families on a continuous basis. The applicants must be documented residents of the US and residents or working in Avery County for at least one year prior to application. Our Family Selection committee reviews the applications and chooses families based on need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the no-interest mortgage. Avery County Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, marital status, or age in choosing partner families. Call the office at
733-1909 or email info@averycohfh.org to see if you might qualify or to get more information on becoming a Habitat homeowner.

  Where are Avery Habitat's houses built and who builds them?

We will be building at least four homes this year and next year.  All of our building for the next few years will be in our Milford Meadows development on Miles Field Road near Elk Park.

Individuals and groups from churches, civic organizations, and businesses donate their time and energy to help build the houses. Partner families invest at least 500 hours of sweat equity.  We also host out of town volunteer groups through programs such as Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners, and others.

In 2004, Avery Habitat took part in a Blitz Build sponsored by Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Other area churches have joined together under the "Apostles Build" partnership initiative to share the cost of home sponsorship. Avery County Habitat for Humanity is currently building in the 40 acre planned community, "Milford Meadows", named in honor of Reverend Charlie Milford, founder of Avery Habitat.

  How big is a Habitat house and how much does it cost to build one?

In Avery County it costs an average of $70,000 to build one house. The typical house built by Avery County Habitat has an average 1,100 square feet of finished living area. Most homes have 2 or 3 bedrooms. These houses do not have garages or carports. They are affordable to low-income families because there is no profit included in the sale of the house and no interest is charged on the mortgage. The mortgages are financed over 20 years.

  How does Avery Habitat get money to build houses?

Avery Habitat holds fundraisers throughout the community. We operate on donations from churches, businesses, corporations, organizations, and individuals. Habitat accepts government funds for the acquisition of land, for building, and for infrastructure (streets, utilities, etc.) costs, so long as the funds have no conditions that would violate Habitat's principles or limit its ability to proclaim its Christian witness. Individuals, groups, and churches can sponsor a Habitat home - call the office at 733-1909 or email info@averycohfh.org to learn more about House Sponsorships.

  How can I become involved with Avery Habitat for Humanity?

There are many different ways that you can volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. (We welcome individuals as well as groups on the construction site.) You can serve on the board of directors or on one of our committees. You can host or attend a special event or fundraiser, donate materials or simply donate money. You can facilitate a presentation about Habitat for you church or civic group.  Volunteering and shopping at our Home Store is an excellent way to help. For more information on getting involved, please call our office or send us an e-mail.

  Is there a housing problem in Avery County?

In the past 20 years a radical transformation has occurred. The creation of gated communities and recreational development has created an influx of wealthy, part-time residents into the county. This has driven the price of real estate so high that most middle and lower income families can not afford to purchase land to build a home or to locate a mobile home.

While land costs were increasing, the local manufacturing industries that were the backbone of employment for the county's middle class left. As a result of these two economic forces, it has become almost impossible to find and secure affordable housing.

Land prices have increased; employment opportunities have drastically decreased.

The "housing wage", the amount a person working 40 hours per week must earn per hour to afford a two bedroom unit at the county's Fair Market rent in Avery County is now up to $10.50 per hour, while many of the working poor earn at or near the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Residents working at or near minimum wage would have to work nearly 100 hours per week to afford a two bedroom home.

In addition, Avery County's housing stock has aged. The number of units 40-60 years old has increased from 1710 units (19% of total) to 2392 units (22%) of total. This statistic is a good indicator of poor housing conditions - outdated wiring and plumbing, inadequate insulation, hazardous heat sources, etc.

In Avery County, nearly one out of every five children live in poverty.

15% of our residents live in housing they simply cannot afford. They face these decisions:

Do I buy groceries, or pay the rent?

Do I buy medicine, or pay the rent?

  Who are the people who cannot afford housing in our community?

They are the growing number of cashiers and retail clerks who bag our groceries for $7.50 per hour and the preschool teacher who takes care of our children and grandchildren for $8.38 per hour. It is your daughter's third-grade teacher who earns $25,500 per year and the nurse's aid who cares for your aging parents for $20,000 per year. They are the growing number of residents that have taken seasonal service jobs just to put food on the table. They are the family that sits next to you at the park. They are the elderly couple that sings in the choir at church. They are our friends, our neighbors, and God's children in need.