Habitat for Humanity of Orange County

Home Construction & Home Buyback

Habitat OC provides equitable access for low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals and families to become first-time homeowners. However, there is a common misconception that Habitat for Humanity gives homes away for free when actually we leverage volunteer power, sweat equity, reduced building costs, and land-lease partnerships in order to enable qualified buyers to purchase a quality home that is affordable, safe, and built with care. Our homes are a hand-up, not a hand-out. Our Home Construction projects ensure that homebuyer’s mortgage payments will not exceed 30% of their income and that down payment and closing costs for low-income homebuyers will remain at an affordable $12,000-$17,000. Additionally, homebuyers are required to invest “Sweat Equity” hours that allow them to devote their physical energy to the house they will call a home. They take pride in the finished product and learn skills to care for their home long term. Currently, we have 80+ new housing units in the construction pipeline slated for the next two years. Habitat OC has built nearly 300 homes for low- and moderate-income families throughout Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Stanton, and Yorba Linda. Some Habitat homeowners stay in their Habitat home for decades; others parlay this first home into other homeownership opportunities, choosing to sell their Habitat home and move on to market rate opportunities. In that case, Habitat OC maintains a Home Buyback program, enabling us to buy back and resell Habitat-built homes, increasing the inventory of affordable houses on the market by every means possible.

Home Repair

For low-and-moderate income homeowners living in homes in need of critical repair, Habitat OC has partnered with cities throughout Orange County to help rehabilitate homes through our Home Repair program for qualified vulnerable populations, including veterans and seniors. Our goal is to improve neighborhoods by providing homeowners with much needed repairs – focusing on health, safety and accessibility. These projects are helping cities throughout Orange County meet their affordable housing goals and objectives by ensuring the maintenance and preservation of existing housing for lower-income residents. Partner cities include Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Rancho Santa Margarita. To date, the program has completed more than 200 projects (serving 176 seniors age 62+). Without proper maintenance, homes deteriorate over time. Thus, units that are older are more likely to need major repairs like a new roof or plumbing. Generally, houses 30 years or older are considered aged and are more likely to require moderate to major repairs. According to Census data, about 64% percent of Orange County’s owner-occupied homes were built before 1980 and are approximately 30 years old or older. Aging and deteriorating homes are common in these mature neighborhoods, especially for low-income or disabled homeowners.

ReStore - Home Improvement Stores

Habitat OC ReStores are the home improvement stores that help build new homes. Our two Orange County locations sell new and gently-used furniture, tools, appliances, and home improvement materials. All proceeds help the mission of Habitat OC. By donating to – or shopping at –the Habitat OC ReStores, you are helping a Habitat OC family transform their lives. To donate new and gently used home furnishings and building materials, call our donation hotline at 714-434-6202 or schedule a pick-up at our website, https://www.habitatoc.org/donatetorestore.