Families find footing with Habitat housing project

COEUR d’ALENE — As renters, Zachary and Harper Clanton have dealt with unsafe living conditions, steep rental prices and even nine months of homelessness after flooding displaced them from their home. 

“Habitat for Humanity has given my family an incredible amount of hope,” Zachary said. “Habitat gave us a light in one of our darkest times.” 

The Clantons are among several families in the queue to become homeowners through Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho. The nonprofit has 21 condo-style homes under construction on Coeur d’Alene’s north side available at below-market prices. 

Applications are still being accepted for some of the homes, which range in price from $115,000 for a one-bedroom unit to $274,000 for a four-bedroom unit. 

The median home price in Kootenai County in July was $529,950, according to Coeur d’Alene Regional Realtors.

“Nobody in this area is providing new homes as affordable as Habitat for Humanity,” said James Casper, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho. “These homes truly are affordable.” 

It’s possible, Casper said, because Habitat homes are mostly constructed with volunteer labor, with land costs subsidized by donations from supporters. As real estate prices in Kootenai County soared, Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho pivoted to build condominium-style homes instead of single-family homes on individual lots. 

“North Idaho is experiencing a housing crisis, and many families are paying more than half of their income to keep a roof over their heads,” Casper said. “Habitat can’t provide all of the housing needed in North Idaho, but right now we are making a difference for 21 families.” 

Habitat homes remain affordable in perpetuity thanks to deed restrictions that cap the amount of equity families can earn on their homes each year. 

The nonprofit has first right-of-refusal to repurchase the homes if a homeowner chooses to sell. The home can then be made available for purchase by another family through Habitat’s homeownership program. 

“That allows us to retain the affordable housing stock in Kootenai County that is created through Habitat for Humanity,” said Habitat Family Navigator Amy Billings. 

In her role, Billings screens applicants for eligibility and helps candidate families through the process of becoming homeowners. 

“Habitat is not a handout,” said Renee Estrada, who is working to secure a home through Habitat for herself and her daughters. “Candidates are required to be working and have an income. The hours you have to volunteer give you a sense that you are still earning your home.” 

Sweat equity is a key to Habitat’s mission of providing a hand-up for families in need of affordable housing. To meet the 250-hour sweat equity requirement, candidates may help at the construction site or volunteer at Habitat’s ReStore, a Hayden thrift store that raises upward of $300,000 each year for Habitat’s homeowner and home repair programs. 

In addition to sweat equity, candidates must have satisfactory credit, stable income, the ability to pay a monthly mortgage and complete financial literacy classes. 

“Habitat has opened a door that we never thought we could walk through,” Estrada said. “It will give us a forever home with a set monthly mortgage. We won’t be living in concern of our rent going up too high or our rental being sold.” 

The families currently going through Habitat’s financial classes and working toward completing sweat equity hours have encountered numerous challenges over the years trying to secure safe and stable housing. 

Susan Beatty struggled to find affordable housing and was facing the possibility of living in her car. She ended up moving in with her father but is looking forward to a home of her own, somewhere she can have her cat and her grandchildren can visit.

Habitat’s financial classes have helped her learn to save money and reevaluate how she spends her money. 

“I have had to take a good long look at myself and make plenty of changes,” she said. “(Habitat) goes out of their way to help you work through problems. They give you resources and the people to work with you. They also have you take key classes to improve yourself, your situation and succeed.” 

Harper Clanton said being a homeowner through Habitat will lower the couple’s monthly expenses.

“Habitat for Humanity has given us hope through a light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “We are no longer drowning in an open ocean but have been offered a life raft to get ourselves back on solid ground.” 

Info: www.northidahohabitat.org

    Applications are being accepted for Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho's housing project in Coeur d'Alene.