Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the United States and in more than 70 countries around the world. Brown County Habitat’s vision is creating a community where everyone has a decent place to live. We realize our vision by helping families to achieve stability and self-reliance while building their own homes.

Individuals, corporations, churches and other groups partner with Brown County Habitat families to build or improve their homes. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Brown County Habitat for Humanity works in a number of different ways to create decent, affordable housing. In addition to new construction, we help people repair and improve their own homes and install ramps through our “Brush with Kindness” program.

We also work to raise local awareness and advocate for decent and affordable housing that promotes dignity and hope.

Brown County Habitat, in collaboration with partner organizations like Purdue Extension and Thrivent, host collaborative homeowner classes for both current homeowners and those interested in purchasing homes in the future.  

Families in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with Brown County Habitat for Humanity. Our local board of directors then selects applicants based on three criteria:

● Level of need.
● Willingness to partner with Habitat.
● Ability to pay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan, funded by Brown County Habitat for Humanity.

Once selected:

● Partner families participate in training sessions to learn about responsible homeownership and maintenance.
● Homebuyers invest at least 250 hours of labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other community members.
● Homeowners then enter into an interest free mortgage with Brown County Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowners.

As partner families pay back their mortgages, funds are reinvested in our local operations in order to offer future families an opportunity for homeownership.

According to a 2019 study, increasing affordable housing options was ranked as the #1 priority by local community members. The lack of affordable decent housing impedes the ability of local businesses to secure employees, contributes to a declining school enrollment and undermines a stable fulltime population.

Housing first has been proven to stabilize communities by supporting low-income families. When people live in decent, affordable homes, homeowners and their families frequently improve their health, educational attainment, safety and ultimately generational wealth.

Homeownership leads to:

Increases in:
● Graduation rates.
● Children’s health and well-being.
● Net family wealth.

Decreases in:
● Children’s behavioral problems.
● Reliance on government assistance.
● Health problems

The benefits of homeownership are indisputable. Since 1989, Brown County Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 21 families with housing solutions leading to decent, affordable shelter. We will continue to work toward a community where everyone has a decent place to live, and where measurable improvements in health, education, security, and wealth generation are enjoyed by more and more homeowners.