About Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans
Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans is a locally owned and operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Our operations are directed by our local Board of Directors. We serve Montrose, Delta, Ouray and San Miguel Counties.
Habitat for Humanity International is an organization that was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. The Fullers, inspired by their visit to the small Christian community of Koinonia Farm, embarked on their own quest to provide housing for all who deserved and desired it. According to Habitat, it was the founding Fullers who developed the concept of ‘partnership housing,’ which hinged on the idea of those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.
How does Habitat for Humanity help families?
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization that assists individuals all over the world, and has successfully built over half million homes which provide shelter to approximately 2.5 million individuals in over 90 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with people and families in need of a decent and affordable home.
Since 1991, Habitat for Humanity of The San Juans (formerly HFH of Montrose County) has empowered over 56 local families to help build and move into homes of their own.
Shelter is a basic human need and Habitat for Humanity strives to achieve its goal of eliminating substandard housing by making decent, sustainable and affordable housing a reality for everyone.
One of the exciting things about Habitat for Humanity is that not only does it provide the basic necessity of shelter, but it encourages the accompanying responsibilities that come with home-ownership. The organization offers not a hand-out, but a hand-up; Habitat for Humanity requires its homeowners to invest up to 500 hours of sweat equity to help build their home and qualify for a non-profit mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity thrives through the generosity of volunteers who give their time, and from those who donate their support financially.
Vision Statement
“Every family in Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Counties have the opportunity to have a home that is safe, affordable and in good condition while fostering a pride in ownership. Key stakeholders and community leaders share this vision and view housing as a top priority. Resource allocation reflects that shared value.”
Areas that we serve
History
Habitat For Humanity of Montrose County became an affiliate in July 1991. We have constructed over 50 Habitat homes and have completed 22 repair projects. In 1996, the affiliate began developing a 7 1/2 acre subdivision within the Montrose city limits. The 7 1/2 acres have been subdivided into 29 lots, and are now known as the Mesa Vista Subdivision. Twenty-six Habitat families now reside in Mesa Vista.
There are 6 Habitat homes in San Miguel County in the town of Norwood.
In December 2014, we acquired Ouray and San Miguel Counties and became Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans. We currently have three homes under construction, and dedicated our 50th home in 2015.
In 2015, we also relaunched a critical home repair program in order to help low income homeowners with critical home needs.
The affiliate tithes quarterly to Habitat International. Through this tithing, over 26 families have received homes in foreign countries.
Faith is what Habitat for Humanity was founded on. It is what has kept us a vital force in our world for more than 30 years. Our homes are built on faith and put together with love. There is no stronger force in our universe. Habitat would not be what it is today had we not embraced people of all faiths and no faith to come together and work side by side. We seek to uphold what Millard Fullers vision was when he created this great organization.
Proselytizing Policy
Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations (HFH) will not proselytize. Nor will HFH work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with HFH. This means that HFH will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must (i) adhere to or convert to a particular faith or (ii) listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
