Our Impact
In 2015, Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota (HFH-MN) partnered with Wilder Research to conduct a statewide study of Habitat homeowners and the impact of owning their own home has had on them. Some of the highlighted results from the study can be found below. The full results from the study can be found on the HFH-MN’s website by clicking here.
Over 400 Habitat homeowners from across Minnesota took part in the study, answering questions dealing with their thoughts on their quality of live since moving into their homes. The questions dealt with safety, health, education, financial stability, community, family, and hope.
- Over 90% of homeowners feel safe in their homes.
- About 80% feel safer than they were in their previous homes. A similar percentage feel that their children are now safer.
- Of the homeowners who have a family member with respiratory illnesses, 57% said they improved after moving into their Habitat home.
- Over half of homeowners with children said their children’s grades improved after moving into their Habitat homes. Almost 2/3 said their study habits improved.
- About 2/3 of the homeowners with children feel more confident about their ability to fund their children’s college education.
- In 92% of Habitat homeowners, at least one adult (either the homeowner or another family member) started or completed, or plans to start, higher education or training programs after moving in.
- Over half of homeowners said they have more money since moving into their Habitat home. Almost 40% said they pay less in housing costs.
- Use of every type of government assistance programs except disability declined by at least 15%.
- The cost-benefit analysis indicates that the 2,200 Habitat homeowners in Minnesota could be using between $6.4 and $9.3 million less in government assistance programs annually.
- Over 80% of homeowners reported they feel connected to their community, and over half said they participate more in community activities.
- 2/3 of families said their children spend more time with their friends and classmates.
- 70% of homeowners said they spend more time with their families.
- 90% of homeowners said they feel better about their children’s future.
- 92% of homeowners said their lives were better since moving into their home. Of those 92%, 89% said they attributed that positive change either “completely” or “a lot” to Habitat.
Our partner families know their mortgage payments go back into building more homes in local communities. Therefore, each family we serve allows more homes to be built. These homes also add to the local tax base. Our homeowners will pay approximately $70,200 in property taxes in 2023.
Families’ ongoing success in their homes is measured by their continued ability to pay for and maintain their homes. By not spending more than 30% of their income on housing, parents can provide better food, medical care, and education opportunities for their children. Their homes are healthy—and are often significantly healthier and safer than their former substandard housing—due to superior insulation, a fresh air exchanger, low volatile organic compound paint, and other green building practices. Our program also creates long-term relationships between the people we serve and all our community partners who helped them build their home.
NSLCHFH homeowners have said participating in the program gave them a sense of dignity they could instill in their children. They feel safer and healthier, and their children have sufficient space to study. They have gained the freedom from having to choose between decent living conditions and food, clothing, or educational opportunities.
Where once stood vacant lots or deteriorating housing stock now stand simple, decent homes, many with young children happily playing in yards they never had before. These children will grow up in that home, connected to their community in ways they may only viscerally understand. Now that NSLCHFH is nearing 30 years as an organization, we have seen some of our early partner families pay off their mortgages and their children graduate from college.
For each family that successfully completes the program and purchases their new, energy-efficient home, we know we have succeeded. For each family that pays their mortgage on time, we know we have succeed. Their lives and livelihoods have improved enough that many have added garages to their property, gone back to school to improve their education or applied for promotions.
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