Gateway Habitat for Humanity


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WHO ARE WE?

In November 1994, several people from the Pocatello community attended two organizational meetings and demonstrated an interest in forming a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. They felt our community had a profound need to provide simple, decent, and affordable housing.

The 1990 Census indicated that 7% of the people in Pocatello were paying 50% of their income on housing. Idaho State University demographics showed that 13% of people in Pocatello were spending 75% of their income on housing.

The booming economy has consumed the affordable housing stock in Southeast Idaho. Many older homes have been renovated and, as a result, they are no longer affordable. Others have been converted into apartment complexes to accommodate college students. As a result, many properties are not suited for families with children and most available properties are not considered affordable.

In Spring 1995, a Board of Directors was formed and in February 1996, the affiliate application process had been completed and submitted. On April 1, 1996, Gateway Habitat for Humanity became a chartered affiliate and in the same year, received its certificate of incorporation from the State of Idaho.

Our local Gateway Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical housing ministry. We are part of a program in existence since 1976, which has built over 100,000 homes. We are a community group made up of concerned citizens from many different religious and cultural backgrounds.

We seek to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Our particular focus is on the Southeast portion of Idaho.

Our goal is to build simple, decent, affordable houses by working in partnership with low-income families and using volunteer labor and donated materials. Gateway Habitat homes are sold at no profit and are financed with affordable, no-interest loans. Mortgage payments are made to Gateway Habitat and go into a revolving fund to help build more houses for needy families in our area.

WHO ARE GATEWAY HABITAT VOLUNTEERS?

Our volunteers come from all age groupls, occupations, and faiths. We believe ALL people deserve decent homes -- the poor need a hand-up, not a hand-out.

We welcome people to help build and fund-raise, work in partnership with families and work in other communities. We welcome anyone to join us as a partner in our work.

HOW DO WE USE YOUR GIFT TO GATEWAY HABITAT

Your gift goes immediately toward construction of a Habitat home. Similar to an endowment gift, your donation is never used up. The mortgage payments from each house are used to build the next house. Over time, your gift will continue to provide housing for needy families.

As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Gateway Habitat is completely autonomous. However, because we believe our "neighborhood" stretches beyond our local community, we contribute ten percent of our cash donations to help fund Habitat projects in Mexico (our international partner).