Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads

Habitat SHR’s Vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Its Mission is to build affordable homes that strengthen families and communities throughout South Hampton Roads which includes Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Smithfield, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

Habitat SHR’s goal is to help partner families achieve the financial security, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Habitat SHR employs a multifaceted strategy in order to build and sell affordable homes to low-income families. It works closely with municipalities and redevelopment authorities including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which provides various types of funding to assist in creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income families. While 40% of the cost of construction comes from HUD funding, 60% must be raised locally from individuals, foundations, and corporations. This means that the South Hampton Roads community is a vital source of funding and plays a critical role in Habitat SHR’s Mission.

Finally, Habitat SHR operates two retail stores (ReStores), located in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, that accept donations of new and gently-used furniture, appliances, housewares, building materials, and more. Donations are then sold to the public at a fraction of their retail price. Sales from the ReStores generate proceeds that are used to offset the overhead costs of the organization. This allows funding received from the community to be put directly towards supporting the Mission.

Habitat SHR is able to make homeownership affordable by offering flexible terms and zero-equivalent interest mortgages. Monthly payments, which are fixed at no more than 30% of a family’s monthly income, are recycled back into the program to provide funding for future Habitat homes.

Habitat homes are built for affordability, quality, and sustainability and act as beacons for improvement to the surrounding neighborhoods. To build affordable homes, Habitat SHR focuses on purchasing properties in economic development areas. Habitat homes built in these areas increase surrounding property values and home equity for the entire neighborhood; all families’ benefit.

Habitat SHR depends on the contributions of volunteers in order to meet its mission. In fact, 85% of construction labor comes from volunteers. Additionally, Habitat homeowners contribute hundreds of hours of “sweat equity,” building their own homes and those of future Habitat homeowners as well as completing financial literacy classes.

As a Class "A" Contractor, Habitat SHR emphasizes employing Section 3 (minority owner) Contractors wherever possible. Habitat SHR also supports local construction related businesses, contractors, trades and all other vendors that assist in home construction.

Since 1988, Habitat SHR has addressed the lack of affordable housing by building/rehabbing 239 homes serving low-income families and communities in the seven municipalities comprising South Hampton Roads, VA. Incorporating the unique Habitat Model of a "Hand-up; not a Hand-out," these 239 qualified families (over 800 adults and children) who, otherwise could not afford to, have purchased decent homes in nurturing neighborhoods. Construction on our 240th and 241st homes is underway and should be completed by late 2022.

All of the money raised by Habitat SHR stays in South Hampton Roads, positively impacting economic growth in the entire community. The biggest impact to the community is that the establishment of affordable Habitat homes contribute to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. The most compelling evidence is found with the children of Habitat homeowners who are:

- 25% more likely to graduate high school,
- 50% more likely to attend college, and
- 60% more likely to own houses within 10 years of leaving home.
(Source: Habitat International)

Habitat SHR’s current short term goal is to build five homes per year with a longer term goal of 10 homes per year. In order to ensure buildable lots are available to meet this goal, Habitat SHR is working to establish a $500,000 Land Acquisition Fund / Land Bank (LAF/LB). Once fully funded, the LAF/LB will have sufficient land and/or acquisition funds to support the construction and sale of ten affordable homes for local, low-income families each year. Using proceeds from the sale of an affordable home, the LAF/LB will be reimbursed for all land acquisition expenses incurred. This will ensure that the LAF/LB will be self-sustaining.