Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, founded in 1985, builds affordable homes across the Phoenix area in Maricopa and Pinal counties. It runs an emergency home repair program and four ReStores. Here is how to qualify, what is involved, and how to help.
Families buy a Habitat home with an affordable mortgage and contribute sweat equity; homes are not given away. The affiliate describes the mortgage as affordable without publishing a specific interest rate.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | Gross household income no more than 78 percent of the Maricopa and Pinal county area median income, varying by family size. |
| Income history | A two-year history of stable income. |
| Credit and debt | An acceptable credit history, with total monthly debt including the estimated mortgage no more than 43 percent of income. |
| Closing costs | Ability to cover closing costs of about $4,000. |
| Residency | U.S. citizen or permanent resident, willing to live in the Habitat neighborhood. |
| Sweat equity | Between 200 and 400 hours. |
The application includes documentation such as ID, proof of residency, pay stubs, and tax returns, with a non-refundable $100 fee per applicant.
Applying runs through the online homeownership application with the required documents, and the office can be reached at 602-268-9022. Specific open and close dates are not posted, so it is worth checking the homeownership page for the current cycle.
Selection follows the standard Habitat criteria of need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner.
Habitat Central Arizona runs four ReStores, in Peoria, Phoenix, West Phoenix, and Tempe, open seven days a week and selling donated building materials and furnishings. They take drop-off donations and offer scheduled pickup.
Its Emergency Home Repair program handles urgent fixes such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, structural, roofing, and accessibility work for income-qualified owner-occupants within city limits. The affiliate also lists aging-in-place, neighborhood revitalization, veteran, and construction-training programs.
Volunteers can work on construction sites at 16 and at the ReStore at 15, with a signed parental waiver for minors and limits on tools and heights. You register online or contact 602-268-9022. Donating money, shopping or donating at a ReStore, and joining a build are the main ways to help.
Since 1985 the affiliate reports assisting more than 5,000 families, building over 1,200 homes, and completing more than 3,500 home repairs. It holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 90 percent score. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 74-2401708.
Affordable homes across Maricopa and Pinal counties.
Urgent HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and accessibility fixes.
Four stores selling donated building materials and furnishings.
Home modifications so owners can stay in their homes.
A program teaching building skills.
Community-level housing work across the Valley.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona (habitatcaz.org) homeownership, emergency repair, ReStore, and volunteer pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 74-2401708). The mortgage interest rate is not published. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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