PETERSEN PLACE - COMING IN 2026 - Call 208-528-0298 for an Orientation Appointment
|
PETERSEN PLACE - COMING IN 2026 - Call 208-528-0298 for an Orientation Appointment |
PETERSEN PLACE - COMING IN 2026
Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper and Congressman Mike Simpson celebrated with a Groundbreaking Ceremony at Petersen Place, Habitat Idaho Falls Area's first Community of Hope.
THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
A decent and affordable place to live helps families by freeing them from physical and mental hardships and placing them on a path of new opportunity and increased confidence and self-reliance. A family’s partnership with Habitat means that they have a stable place to live and to spend time together. An affordable mortgage means that they have a chance to create savings and invest in their own education. A decent roof over their heads establishes that home as a place that protects their health instead of endangering it.
Habitat works with families to help them acquire the access, skills and financial education necessary to become successful homeowners. By partnering with us, families are seizing the opportunities and possibilities that decent, affordable housing represents.
THROUGH SHELTER WE EMPOWER!!
Families in need of affordable housing live everywhere: small towns, villages, sprawling cities and metropolitan areas, and YOUR community. Housing need presents itself, not only in the Idaho Falls area, but across the entire United States and the world.
Housing insecurity touches nearly half of adults at some point in their lives. A majority of Americans believe that it is challenging to find affordable, quality housing in their communities.
More than half of all adults say they have made at least one trade-off in order to cover their rent or mortgage. These trade-offs may include taking a second job, cutting back on health care or healthy food, or moving to neighborhoods that may be less safe.
One of the biggest obstacles to a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to live can be the access for land to build on. Building sites for Habitat homes in Idaho Falls are very rarely available and when they are available, they are no longer affordable.
Housing instability, including frequent moves, overcrowding and threats of eviction or foreclosure, creates stress, depression and hopelessness for far too many families.
Adults living in housing that they struggle to afford often describe themselves as less healthy and the well-being and development of children becomes compromised by living with insecure housing.
Families paying too high a percentage of their income for housing often find themselves making impossible choices. Rent or healthcare, food or transportation.
WHAT DOES THE HOUSING NEED IN IDAHO LOOK LIKE?
Housing affordability is a major issue in the state of Idaho where wages have not kept pace with the cost of housing. According to statistics, the median house price as of January 2025 was $350,000. The HUD website currently sets the median cost of a 2-bedroom apartment at $1,425 a month and a 3-bedroom apartment cost at $1,885.
According to the United Way ALICE report on financial hardship in Idaho completed in 2022, a two-parent family of four would need to earn an hourly wage of $28.62 to just survive and the same family would need to earn an hourly wage of $52.66 to be stable in their budget. With the minimum wage set at $7.25 per hour (the Federal Minimum Wage), a four person household with both parents working a forty hour week cannot make enough to survive much less thrive.
Homelessness is very much present in Idaho. Although the exact number of families whose housing is insecure is difficult to define, the increase in the number of families receiving assistance at local food banks and soup kitchens is a strong indicator that the number of housing and food insecure families is drastically increasing.
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM
Habitat for Humanity is a homeownership program that empowers families to build a new life for themselves through the stability and security of owning their own home. Habitat homes are not given away, but are sold to families who qualify, are willing to put in hundreds of hours of labor (called Sweat Equity) and are able to make a monthly mortgage payment. Habitat homes are affordable because Habitat does not make a profit; homes are sold with a no-interest (0%) loan and are built with volunteer help. Selected families are partners in every sense of the word. They contribute 300 hours of sweat equity building their own home, helping build homes of other partner families as well as volunteering in the local ReStore, helping with fundraisers along with other opportunities that may arise. Homebuyers also participate in classes that help prepare them for homeownership.
Habitat’s program is not a quick housing solution. It can take a minimum of 12 months, typically longer, from the time of application before a family can move into their HABITAT home. Construction of the home is complex and can have multiple delays based on supplies and contractors.
Meeting all application requirements does not guarantee family selection
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
Residency
o Resident of East Idaho for a minimum of 1 year
o U.S. Citizen, permanent resident, or documented right to work in the United States.
Housing Need:
o Electrical, plumbing or heating issues in current home
o Lead based paint or asbestos found in current home
o Overcrowding of space available
o Temporary housing or shelter
o Mold or other health issues present in the home.
Willingness to Partner:
o Willing to partner with Habitat in the building of your home or to make special arrangements if necessary due to physical limitations or disability.
o Complete 300 hours of sweat equity time during the building of the home.
Income:
o Your household income must fall within the current Income Limits and you must meet the debt to income ratio requirements.
Ability to Pay:
o Ability to pay a no interest, no profit mortgage loan
Contact Us For More Information
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No. Rental of any rooms or space is not permitted and is considered a violation of the Homeowner Agreement. Habitat homes are owner occupied only.
-
Each home shall be entitled to a maximum of three (3) pets so long as such pets are not kept for any commercial purposes, does not cause an unreasonable amount of noise, odor or does not otherwise become a nuisance to other Owners.
-
Yes, the types and sizes provided varies based on the home size and if there is a basement with the home.
-
Income verification for program eligibility is only considered at the time of application. The Mortgage and monthly payments will be based on your income at time of the home completion. However, a negative change in the household income below the 25% minimum prior to closing on the home, could disqualify participants in the program.
Our hope is that having a stable, affordable home will free up time and energy to pursue additional opportunities in education, training or job promotions/changes.
-
Yes, all income sources will be considered for qualification.
-
Yes, all income sources will be considered for qualification.
-
Per contract Habitat shall have the right to Exercise its Rights of First Purchase.
-
Children under the age of 16 may contribute hours towards the sweat equity total. These children can help with Meal Prep for the build site or help on the build site on days that there is no heavy equipment or power tools being used. All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
-
No. Two applicant households can have 75 hours (25%) of the 300 hours that are required be completed by Friends and Family. Single applicant households can have 150 (50%) of the 300 hours that are required be completed by Friends and Family.
-
We build, renovate and repair homes all over the world using volunteer labor and donations. Habitat advocates for increasing access to decent, affordable housing around the world.
-
No. Habitat for Humanity Idaho Falls Area is an affordable home-ownership program. Our homeowners purchase their homes from Habitat through an affordable mortgage loan that is repaid monthly based on 30% of the household’s gross monthly income.
-
Families or individuals in need of decent, affordable shelter can inquire and apply to be part of the program. Habitat homebuyers are chosen based on three criteria:
The level of need for safe, decent and affordable housing.
The willingness to partner with Habitat to build the home.
The ability to repay a 0% interest mortgage loan.
We follow a policy of nondiscrimination for homeowner selection. Neither race or religion is a factor in the Homeowner Selection Committee’s choosing of potential homeowners.
-
No. Habitat for Humanity is a Fair Housing agency. Meaning that we do not discriminate based on race/color, religion, sex/gender/ national origin, disability, age or family status. Our program is open to all household types.
-
Yes. Like all other affordable housing programs, Habitat for Humanity Idaho Falls Area requires that its homes are owner occupied. You cannot use the home for business purposes, move out and leave it empty, rent it out or move out and let someone else live there instead. After the homeowner has paid off the mortgage, these restrictions are removed.
-
Our staff works directly with the homeowners if they cannot pay their mortgage due to temporary or permanent changes to their income. Habitat will meet with the homeowners to better understand the circumstances/situation and put a plan in place to get monthly payments current. We work with all of our homeowners who have the commitment, follow through and resources to help them keep their homes.
-
Habitat for Humanity Idaho Falls Area abides by Habitat for Humanity International square footage guidelines. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms will be determined by the family size.
-
You can get approval from Habitat to build your own garage or carport. Habitat does not build garages or carports.
-
Habitat for Humanity Idaho Falls Area acquires land through purchases and/or donation. Applicants who want to be part of the program will need to be willing to live where we are currently building.
“In Need For An Affordable Home?”