Gateway Habitat for Humanity

Gateway Habitat for Humanity is in the prosess of completing our 11th home in Pocatello located on North Garfield.  The home will be completed this summer.  We are also working on a rehab project on a home located on Clark Street which will be our 12th home which will be completed in 2017.

Habitat for Humanity believes in a building homes in partnership with families - we do not give homes away.  The first step in the home ownership process is selecting a family.  The family must meet certain criteria.  They must fall into a low income category.  The family must be able to afford a modest mortgage payment.  They must currently live in substandard housing.  Finally, the family must agree to spend 500 hours volunteering at the build site; or with other Habitat projects.

Once a family is selected they choose the design for their home and construction begins.  Our organization uses as much volunteer labor as we can; we also receive some donations of materials.  We will hire licensed contractors when needed.  The donations of materials and labor will reduce the cost of a home significantly.  For example, our last home cost $65,000 to build but appraised for approximately $100,000.  We then sell the home to the family for what it cost us to build.  Gateway Habitat for Humanity carries the mortgage at no interest.  The homeowners pay a small mortgage which is more affordable that rent.

Gateway Habitat for Humanity also operates a Restore located at 2400 Garrett Way.  The Restore is a thrift store which sells new and used building materials which are donated.  Anyone is welcome to donate items to the Restore.  Commonly donated items include kitchen and bathroom cabinets, hardware, sinks, toilets, appliances, furniture, leftover lumber, and much more.  The Restore benefits the Pocatello community in three ways.  Funds from the Restore helps with the construction of new homes in the community.  People purchase used materials who cannot afford the cost of new materials - allowing them to fix up their homes.  People donate items to the Restore which might otherwise end up in our landfill.

Gateway Habitat for Humanity receives income each month from our homeowners and from the Restore.  After expenses, this income helps in the construction of our homes.  If we relied only on this income, it would take 18 to 24 months to save up to build a house.  We rely on fundraising to allow us to build the homes quicker to help more families in our community.  We would appreciate your donation to help make a families dream of home ownership a reality.

Our next project on Clark will be a complete gut and remodel of an older home built in 1922.  The home was donated to our organization in November and we began working on the home in February.  In July we hope to raise the home and completely replace the crumbling foundation.  When we are finished we hope to have a home which will last for many years for our next homeowner.  This is an exciting project - the home is showing its age and it is located on a major intersection in Pocatello.  The rehab of this home will improve the neighborhood and be a shining example for others.