Habitat for Humanity, Summit and Wasatch Counties

Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. We envision a world where everyone has a decent place to live within the Wasatch Back and around the world.

We are building homes for teachers, nurses, civil servants, employees of small businesses and hospitality industry workers. These are the foundation of our community, our success, and our lifestyle. And they deserve a decent place to live within our community.

Meet Monica and Her Daughters

Monica and her daughters Bridget and Brooklyn have moved three times since the girls were 9 and 6 because of high rents. In fact, rent increases have soared over Monica’s salary increases as a science teacher in South Summit High School. She is one of the 20% of renters in Summit County who pays more than half her income in housing costs simply because there are no less expensive options.

Monica worried that continuing spikes in rent would move her out of the community, disrupting her daughters’ lives and giving her less connection with her students. Owning a home in Summit County would help resolve that worry, but the combination her current high rent and the area's high housing prices made the reality of homeownership seem impossible.

"For our family, owning a home and feeling grounded is absolutely priceless," Monica said.

In April,  however, Monica’s pathway to buying a home became possible when she learned her family was accepted into the Habitat Homeownership Program. This summer alone, she invested more than 200 hours in required sweat equity by helping to build another Habitat home and working at the Habitat ReStore. And after she and the girls move into their home, she will continue to partner with Habitat to ensure she is knowledgeable about being a homeowner, as well as pay an affordable mortgage, building equity and financial security.

Being able to own a home has long been a dream for Monica and her girls. Her daughters are beyond thrilled to be able to move into their new home next year, painting and decorating their bedrooms any way they want. And the only moving in anyone's foreseeable future is the move to college.