Goals and Objectives Habitat for Humanity is an organization providing the opportunity of home ownership for hard working families with a demonstrated need.  Habitat does not provide welfare housing.  It provides a self-help program to families who are doing everything they can but cannot qualify for affordable housing.  Homes are not a “hand out” but a “hand up” for these families.  Habitat families are enrolled into the self-help program and are expected to help build their home in a partnership with Habitat.  When the home is finished, the new homeowner pays a no-interest mortgage back to Habitat.  Those payments are placed back into program funds in order to build more homes.  Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County maintains the responsibility for building these houses with volunteer labor, and passes absolutely no profit on to the Habitat family.

Colorado is unique in private ownership concerns.  66% of the land area in Colorado is held by the Federal and State governments, leaving only 33% of the area of this State to be held privately.  That make all Colorado property valued higher than most parts of the nation.  Grand Junction has become a top 50 ‘hot spot’ in real estate markets in the nation.  This recent economic ‘boom’ has caused Grand Junction’s population to grow dramatically; the city’s population has increased an enormous 44.6% in the past ten years.  This growth, however, far exceeds the growth in the number of affordable housing units in this area.  

Increases in local wages are also disproportionately below the levels to pay for housing.  Various agencies are working diligently to house poverty and low-income families.  Home payments and rents have increased substantially as well as home utility costs.  This financial impact leaves many people out of choices for shelter and/or whether these families will heat or eat.  The demand for real estate has made property acquisition very competitive and expensive.  

Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County has become an advocate in the real estate market for the 46% of the population in Grand Junction who live at or below 50% of poverty. This is why this Habitat affiliate is buying undeveloped parcels of property and developing them.  Without this strategy, it is nearly impossible to find reasonably priced lots which are necessary to keep the costs of the home affordable for the Habitat family.

Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County has procured two pieces of land for development: Camelot II which is will be completely built out in 2008; and the John H Hoffman  property which is beginning the subdivision approval process and will have 52+ lots for our ever-increasing number of families in need.