Much more than a roof overhead, when families have a stable, affordable home to live in, it affects every aspect of their lives in a positive way. This is something that Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton and Development Director, David Mauch knows well.
Serving the Dayton area for 40 years as of 2023, Habitat for Humanity offers a hand up, not a handout for qualified low income families. “Our partner families work very hard for a very long time for the opportunity to purchase their Habitat home,” explains David.
Once accepted into the program, partner families work alongside volunteers to help build their house. They are required to put in a minimum of 275 hours of "sweat equity" and take approximately 50 hours of classes to prepare for responsible homeownership before earning their home. Classes include topics such as personal finance & budgeting, basic home maintenance, community involvement, taxes and insurance, and healthy lifestyles which includes a cooking class.
Partner families also make a down payment toward the purchase of their home, which is then sold to them through an affordable, interest-free mortgage held by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton. Mortgage payments are put into a revolving fund to build future homes. “Our program is designed for hardworking families who are willing to partner and put in the time for the opportunity to become a homeowner,” adds David.
More than home ownership, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton also runs a critical repair program available to homeowners who are under 80% of the median income level for the Dayton area. Most often, those that qualify are senior members of the community who are living on a modest or fixed income. The program allows them to receive a one time critical repair on their home. Repairs are done free of charge for the homeowner in need and are often things like roof repair and replacement, mobility ramps or furnace and water heater replacement.
“It is great to see someone who is no longer worried or afraid of the rain because they have a new roof or someone who hasn’t had a working furnace in two years now has heat in their home. Those moments are why we come to work, for the opportunity to assist folks in our community and give them a helping hand,” shares David.
Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. That is written clearly in their mission and is lived out on the job sites. Since the early 90s Habitat for Humanity has brought women together on the job site with their Women Build program. Women are encouraged to volunteer and are given hands-on experience and training while volunteering at the build with no experience necessary.
New chair for the Women Build Committee, Elizabeth Breitenstein is breathing new life into the program. “I’m very excited about our upcoming Women Build home build project that will kick off in Kettering this spring. We anticipate many local women getting involved in the project and volunteering on the Habitat build site,” adds David.
There are a few different ways to support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton. One of the most well-known ways is by volunteering on Habitat build sites to assist efforts to build homes in the community. Shopping or donating to the ReStore is another great way to support the mission.
With two locations, one in the McPherson Town neighborhood and a second one that recently opened in Springfield, the ReStore sells building materials, home improvement products, furniture and home decor to the general public at a discount. Items for sale have been donated by individuals, businesses, and contractors and all donations are tax deductible.
Making a donation, volunteering or shopping at the ReStore helps someone improve their lives in a significant way. “When you have the chance to partner with someone and afford them the opportunity to purchase their first home, you realize that can be life-changing for the family,” shares David. “The amount of joy I see when families sign the mortgage and get the keys to their house is emotional for me and very exciting every time we close on a house.”
For more information on how you can support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton visit DaytonHabitat.org. For inquiries about qualifying for programs offered through Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton, call 937.586.0860 and speak with a Habitat representative.
“When you have the chance to partner with someone and afford them the opportunity to purchase their first home, you realize that can be life-changing for the family.”
