Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota has chapters in: Mankato/ North Mankato, St. Peter/ Henderson, Le Sueur and Watonwan county. The affiliate was granted the official affiliate status on July 1, 1990. St. Peter joined the affiliate in 1993. The Le Sueur/ Henderson Chapter began in 1996. As of 2011, our affiliate has completed 90 homes, with 52 in Mankato, St. Peter 20, Le Sueur 8, Watonwan 6 and 3 in New Prague. On average, the affiliate builds six to eight homes per year. There are over 1 million people living in Habitat homes worldwide. It is definitely working!

Habitat builds houses along with families who demonstrate a need for affordable housing, the ability to pay, and a willingness to partner. Habitat does not give away homes. All applicants are required to provide employer references and allow credit checks and rental verification. Once the application is approved, a family must work 200-400 hours of "sweat equity" and attend classes designed to prepare them for home ownership.

The concept of "sweat equity" remains central to the Habitat philosophy of home ownership. Applicants are required to invest their own time and labor in building Habitat homes, which demonstrates their willingness and ability to assume financial responsibility. Only then do they take ownership of a new home and begin making full and timely payments on their interest-free mortgage. Habitat offers a qualifies families a "hand up", not a "hand out".