At Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County we build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter--the only thing we give away is an opportunity. Our mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building decent, affordable homes in partnership with qualifying families. Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our work in Monroe County has a special urgency as 1 in 5 (21%) people live in poverty. According to 2021 data, Bloomington is the second most expensive city to live in the state of Indiana. To afford rental payments for a median-priced two-bedroom apartment in Bloomington (working 40 hours/week and without paying more than 30% of income on housing) an individual would need to make $17.83/hour (7% higher than the state average). Someone earning minimum wage would have to work 98 hours/week to afford an average two-bedroom apartment.
All who qualify for the Habitat program do so based on the same three criteria: need for housing, ability to pay, willingness to partner. Each adult member living in a Habitat home must contribute 250 hours of volunteering, called sweat equity, prior to closing on their house. More comprehensive information about qualifying for the Habitat program can be found on the "Apply" tab. You can learn more about our families in the "Future Homeowners" tab as well.
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, our houses are sold to future homeowners and financed with affordable loans. As the homeowners pay back their affordable mortgage, the funds are reinvested in our operations in order to offer future families an opportunity for homeownership.
