Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. DBA Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity

Background Statement

Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity (GWHFH) was incorporated as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in 1987. GWHFH has since built over 200 homes and served over 800 individuals in Weld County, stabilizing them through affordable homeownership. GWHFH brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Our mission is to work in partnership with community partners and families in-need to build safe and affordable homes. GWHFH arguably serves the most economically marginalized families in our community by partnering with those who earn as little as 30% of the area median income in Weld County.

One in 4 people spend over 50% of their pre-tax income on housing, leaving precious little for other basic needs such as food and health care. GWHFH provides a vulnerable and marginalized population the opportunity to end the cycle of poverty for their families while improving their current quality of life in all areas by building equity to pass down for generations. 90% of Habitat homeowners saw an improvement in their family's health since becoming a homeowner. (2018 HFHC Impact Study)

GWHFH is strategically working to increase their impact throughout all of Weld County. Habitat North, built by GWHFH, is one of the largest Habitat for Humanity single family developments west of the Mississippi and was completed in the summer of 2016. Additionally, GWHFH completed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Veteran's Builds for Habitat in the State of Colorado. After the completion of the Habitat North development, GWHFH began construction of the first home in the new Crestview, a 14 home, Habitat development, now complete, of which the Jefferson High School Construction Pathway students helped to build all 14 homes.

GWHFH has almost completed building in Mission Springs, a 95-unit affordable housing development in partnership with Commonwealth Companies, with each of these homes being built through the partnership with Jefferson High School Construction Pathway ( CPP) Students and various community partners. Since the fall of 2016, under-served CPP students have had the opportunity each semester to build a Habitat home for local families in need. From the ground up, the students learn high in demand trade skills while incorporating their core curriculum classes, with an opportunity to graduate with 27 dual-enrollment college credits through Aims.

The CPP has now helped to build 35 homes to date for Weld County families in desperate need of safe and affordable housing. Through education, we are further ending the cycle of poverty for our at-risk students and their families, as well as our Habitat families that they build for, by providing workforce readiness and skills to enter well-compensated trade careers following graduation. The Construction Pathway program has now evolved into the Career Technical Education Program, which now includes Jefferson High School and multiple other high schools in Weld County.

Imagine the sound of children laughing, playing, running to their homes with excitement from school, daycare, or the soccer field. Imagine children doing their homework and saying their nightly prayers in their own room. Families will celebrate birthdays, graduations, and watch new generations being born in their Habitat homes. Imagine 491 families living in a safe, secure, affordable community because we ALL cared to invest in their futures and the future of our community.

This dream has finally seen realization thanks to all our many development sponsors and partners for our Hope Springs development, including the Richmark and the Richardson family. Whose extremely generous donation to Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity of the land and water for the entire Hope Springs development, will help realize the dreams of a quality, water-wise, climate-friendly affordable community will come true for 491 families and individuals. Hope Springs will bring much-needed relief to area families with this sustainable, affordable development model.

Hope Springs community members will enjoy an amenity-rich development with a premier ABC onsite childcare center, and Musco Lighting Mini-Pitch soccer field, it will be walkable to shopping, and some of the best schools in the city. Hope Springs will be a desirable community where anyone would love to live.

Projects like Hope Springs are experiencing historically high costs to develop. Greeley-Weld Habitat’s infrastructure costs for the project are estimated to be around 14 million. Habitat has raised more than half of the capital needed for the infrastructure construction of the largest Habitat development in Colorado. This is an incredible milestone, and we sincerely appreciate the generous support from our current Hope Springs partners. However, more funding is needed for this massive affordable housing project. When built out, over 100 million of land development and new construction dollars will be reinvested in Weld County through Hope Springs. What a tremendous investment opportunity for our community. Hope Springs families and community members will have the opportunity to thrive and build self-reliance, stability, and security in their lives. Will you join us in supporting this innovative, life-changing community for Northern Colorado?