Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County

Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County (HFHPBC) was established in 1986 with the mission of bringing people together to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Dedicated to the creation of decent, affordable homes for families making between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income, HFHPBC operates on the principle that no one lives in dignity until everyone lives in dignity.
The affiliate's goals can be summarized as 1) Provide new, single-family homes to low and very low-income families at a cost well below what they would find on the open market; 2) Engage volunteers (including Partner Families) to construct homes with the purpose of cutting labor costs, engaging the community and allowing families to become homeowners through “sweat equity," and; 3) Prepare future homeowners for long-term success by providing them with meaningful training covering personal finance and property maintenance.
In a continuous effort to grow, HFHPBC has recently embarked on a multi-year initiative to revitalize three neighborhoods in an area of downtown West Palm Beach that has long been challenged by crime and poverty.

One strategy employed by HFHPBC is a multi-step process for vetting Partner Families. Qualified applicants must meet certain income parameters and be willing to invest 400 hours of “sweat equity" while attending pre-purchase classes. Families must also be willing to repay a 30-year, interest-free mortgage and have a legitimate need for improved housing that cannot be met through more conventional means. By maintaining these criteria, HFHPBC lays the groundwork for long-term success among the residents it serves.
Another strategy involves extensive outreach to community partners including government agencies, civic development organizations and businesses in every community where HFHPBC builds homes. Through these relationships, the affiliate is able to secure property donations and other support that allows HFHPBC to operate efficiently, thereby serving more families.

Affordable housing is only one of the needs of low- and very low-income people in South Florida, but it is a need that HFHPBC is uniquely qualified to fill. After 30 years of constructing homes in Palm Beach County, our affiliate has the knowledge, experience, reputation and professional relationships to efficiently fulfill its mission. Thanks to long-running, mutually beneficial relationships with municipalities and community development agencies from Lake Worth to Jupiter (and as far west as Belle Glade), the affiliate routinely receives land at little to no cost. We also work with an extensive network of contractors and building professionals to obtain competitive prices on services, materials and equipment. Our in-house staff is extremely experienced, with both the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Construction celebrating ten years with the affiliate in 2017. Other key staff have an average of two to five years in their positions, and the affiliate receives ongoing support (in the form of training) from Habitat International's extensive network of industry experts.

HFHPBC engages approximately 2,000 volunteers each year to help build homes for Partner Families. The families are recruited and vetted by our experienced Family Services Department, which meets with over175 prospective homeowners each year. Those who don't immediately qualify for assistance are advised to re-apply in the future. They are given specific information on how to prepare by establishing savings accounts, repairing credit and taking similar steps. The affiliate also maintains an active presence in the community by holding (on average) 20 ground breakings and home-dedications each year. Homes for more than 230 families have been constructed to date, with another 10 planned for 2019. In 2011, HFHPBC established a unique partnership with Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee, which is home to a popular vocational program known as the Weitz Academy of Construction. Approximately 700 students have taken part in this program, which has resulted in the construction of five single-family Habitat Homes. The program enrolls between 150 and 175 students per year and provides them with daily, hands-on opportunities to work on the home while being mentored by construction professionals. Many graduates of the Weitz Construction Academy have found jobs in the industry immediately out of high school, while others have been admitted to programs such as the University of Florida's Rinker School of Construction. The partnership between the high school and HFHPBC has proven so successful that school district officials recently expanded it to include students from Royal Palm Beach High School's HVAC Academy and the construction program at H.E. Hill West Technical Education Center in Belle Glade.
What has not been accomplished so far is minimizing the need for affordable housing in Palm Beach County. As real estate values rise again, HFHPBC officials are aware of more and more families who meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development's definition of "cost burdened." This means they are spending more than 30% of their household income on housing and may have trouble affording food and other necessities. HFHPBC has sought to act as a voice for these families to state and local officials whenever possible. As redevelopment plans are considered for areas such as the historic, African-American neighborhoods of downtown West Palm Beach, HFHPBC has advocated for affordable home ownership opportunities to be prioritized. Additionally, vacant land is becoming more scarce and expensive throughout the county. Our affiliate is continually striving to acquire land affordably in order to help low- and very low-income families achieve strength, stability and self-reliance through housing.