Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, known as Habitat LA and founded in 1990, builds and sells affordable homes at no profit to families across Los Angeles County. It runs three ReStores, a home preservation program, and Habitat for Heroes for veterans. Here is how to qualify, what is involved, and how to help.
Habitat LA builds or rehabs homes and sells them to partner families at no profit, with an affordable mortgage. Eligible households may also qualify for a separate program offering up to $100,000 in mortgage and down-payment assistance toward a single-family home, condo, or townhome.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | Generally 50% to 80% of Area Median Income; 2026 limits run roughly $58,300 to $165,250 depending on household size. |
| Residency | All household members must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. |
| Credit | Good credit, with no recent bankruptcies, collections, liens, or judgments. |
| Ability to pay | Able to afford the monthly mortgage plus a small down payment. |
| Need | Must show a need for decent, affordable housing. |
| Sweat equity | Between 125 and 500 hours, depending on the program and home. |
Habitat LA describes itself as one of the few affordable homeownership programs serving the 50 to 80 percent income bracket in Los Angeles, and it has been named the largest nonprofit residential developer by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Applying starts with an online pre-eligibility questionnaire, followed by a full application and a HUD-certified pre-purchase homebuyer education workshop. You can reach the programs team at (310) 323-4663 or [email protected].
Specific application open dates are not posted, so it is worth checking the homeownership page or contacting the programs team for the current cycle.
Habitat LA runs three ReStores, in Bellflower, Torrance, and Los Angeles, open daily and selling new and gently used building materials, furniture, and home goods at well below retail. They take drop-off donations during store hours and offer scheduled pickup.
Its home preservation program, A Brush With Kindness, repairs and renovates the homes of low-income owners who cannot do the work themselves, focusing on seniors, veterans, and people with limited mobility. The Habitat for Heroes program, launched in 2011, has helped hundreds of veteran families and drawn thousands of veteran volunteers, with support from entertainment-industry partners.
Volunteers can work on a build site at 16 or older, with a signed waiver for minors, and you can sign up online or through [email protected]. Donating money, shopping or donating at a ReStore, and joining a team build are the main ways to help.
Habitat LA holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 96 percent score and the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 33-0416470.
Affordable homes sold at no profit, with up to $100,000 in buyer assistance for some.
Home preservation and repair for low-income owners.
Housing help and build days focused on veterans.
Three stores selling donated building materials and home goods.
HUD-certified pre-purchase workshops and counseling.
Block-level housing improvements across LA County.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (habitatla.org) homeownership, ReStore, and Habitat for Heroes pages; Charity Navigator and Candid (EIN 33-0416470). Some figures vary across the organization's pages and are given as ranges. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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