PO Box 8353, Albuquerque, NM 87198 (505) 265-0057
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Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity (GAHH) was founded in 1987 as a locally governed affiliate of the Habitat for Humanity movement worldwide. Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization founded in 1976. HFHI works in partnership with people in need to create simple, decent, affordable housing. We offer these homes to low-income families who are financially stable, but yet are unable to improve their living situation in today's housing market. These sales are at no profit to the affiliate and with no interest charged to the purchasing families.
A study by the National Home Builders Association listed Albuquerque as the 14th least affordable housing market in the country. There are many reasons for this, including relatively high land development costs, the prevalence of low-income jobs in Albuquerque and also the influx of high-income employees from out of state. These factors combine to create a lack of affordable housing for low-income families in the Albuquerque area. Recent trends see the gap in affordability rising at alarming rates due to high land costs, speculation sales, and flat incomes.
Volunteers provide most of the labor for construction of the homes, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor -"sweat equity" - into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
We completed a very productive building period during 2006-2008, completing some 30 homes. We are thankful for the fact that our sponsors have included local and international business, churches, organizations, and individuals. We believe in the power of people to make changes for the good of society; it is especially fulfilling to see individual donors responding to the need and making such an enormous contribution to the lives of Albuquerque families. The year 2008 saw the completion of our 150th home in the Greater Albuquerque area. After an extended period without active building, our 151st house was dedicated in November 2009. This home completed the Don Pedro Padilla development. Subsequently GAHH acquired a number of lots on Townsend Avenue/Townsend Place and three homes were built there in 2010. In late 2010, using a Workforce Housing Trust Fund Grant from the City of Albuquerque, we were able to acquire sufficient land on Trujillo Road for 16 homes. The first home on that site, number 155 for the affiliate, was dedicated in March 2011. The 156th home is currently under construction and will be dedicated in July 2011. We are hopeful that we will have sufficient sponsors so that we can begin additional new homes on that site in the coming months. Our mission is to eliminate sub-standard housing from the Greater Albuquerque area and we are on our way to doing so. If you would like to learn more about our mission, and how you can become part of it, please explore the links to the left of each page. HELP BUILD IT!
