Habitat for Humanity has started rehabilitating homes in Mojave, with the possibility of expanding their footprint here and constructing new homes for working class homeowners. The Mojave Foundation is working with the Golden Empire affiliate of Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate and build a 28 houses in our downtown area, which is possible only if we get greater community participation and volunteers.

Habitat’s first house is 15556 K Street, on the southeast corner of K and Trinity and was recently donated to Habitat by the family of the previous owner. The house, is undergoing massive restoration, including reinforcing and pouring a new foundation, a totally renovated kitchen, all new windows and doors, and updated bathroom, new roof, walls and interior paint. Habitat’s full time construction manager Eric Mosby is on site five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, coordinating new construction and materials.

Volunteer: The Golden Empire affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, located in Bakersfield, is looking for volunteers from the Mojave community to help out during the week, and especially on Saturday. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Habitat’s volunteer coordinator, Pat Rhodes at 661-861-8449, or email at hfh-pat@sbcglobal.net.

Homeowners: Habitat is also looking for residents to apply for Habitat homes. Qualified applicants must (a) have a job, (b) lived in Kern County for at least one year, and (c) earn under 60% of the U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) area median income ($24,060 for a family of one, $27,504 for a family of two, $30,942 for a family of three, $34,380 for a family of four, etc). Click here for a more detailed description of Habitat’s qualification requirements, and click here for the housing application.

Donate your home/property: Many properties in Mojave are not worth what homeowners paid for them, with no real way of recouping their lost investment. Homeowners can donate their home to Habitat for Humanity, a registered 501c3, and receive a substantial tax deduction – often times worth far more than the market value of the home.

“A Hand-Up, not a Hand-Out“: The Mojave Foundation is an avid supporter of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit 501c3 organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia dedicated to restoring and constructing safe, healthy housing to families around the world. Recipients of Habitat homes must be employed and undergo an extensive screening process. Contrary to popular myth, Habitat does not give homes away, rather homeowners purchase the home at a reduced rate due to volunteer labor and donated materials. Qualified homeowners are responsible for maintaining the property and are required to invest substantial levels of “sweat equity”.