3 Things to Know About Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity

Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity has built eleven homes in San Juan County and has helped with many home repair projects through the "A Brush with Kindness" program.  

Our organization is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which has been building affordable homes for low income families across the world for more than  40 years.  Internationally, homes have been built for more than one million families or seven million people.  

As our local Habitat continues to grow, support for our programs becomes more and more important. This year we are raising funds to build our twelth home.  There are many ways to get involved: (1) Volunteer to Help Build Homes, (2) Donate, (3) Attend a  Fundraising Event, and (4) Volunteer at the Habitat Store. 
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​If you are considering donating to Tres Rios Habitat, there are three things you may not know about but are essential to the success of our mission. 

1. Habitat Does Not Give Houses Away For Free
A common misconception about Habitat is that the houses are given away for free.  Habitat owners must make monthly mortgage payments and provide a $500 down payment before construction begins.  They also must join in programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair, and maintenance.

​The families must have lived in San Juan County for at least one year.  The homes are sold to families at cost and their mortgage payments are kept at an affordable range. The monthly payments  are used to build more homes for other low income families in the county. 

2. Habitat Families Help Build Their Future Homes 
Any family members over 18 years old are required to spend 200 hours working on their home over a six month period.  They put "sweat equity" into their future home. 

The idea of sweat equity is at the heart of the Habitat philosophy of providing a hand up, not a handout.  Habitat families show their motivation and willing to work hard to make a sustainable future for their families. 

Through affordable mortgage payments and sweat equity, Tres Rios Habitat is better able to build more homes, and homeowners take pride in the better future that they have built with their own hands.

3. You Don't Have To Be Handy To Volunteer
​You can support Tres Rios Habitat  even if you don't have the construction skills. Many of our volunteers do not have experience in the construction trades, but find they can help in many ways at the job site if they are willing to donate a few hours of their time. 

​Currently, while we are raising money for the next home build, there are volunteers opportunities at the Farmington Habitat Store.  All proceeds from the store go to help build homes. Contact Daniel Evans, the Habitat Store Manager, at (505) 592-7761 to learn more about volunteering or donating at the store.