Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis builds energy-efficient homes across St. Louis City and County, all to LEED Platinum standard since 2008, and sells them to families with an affordable mortgage. Buyers within the city can get significant down-payment help. Here is how to qualify, what is involved, and how to help.
Qualified buyers purchase a Habitat-built or rehabbed home, typically three or four bedrooms, with an affordable mortgage tailored to their income, and attend family-centered workshops on personal finances, home maintenance, and being a good neighbor. The affiliate describes the mortgage as affordable without stating a specific interest rate. Buyers within city limits can receive up to $50,000 in down-payment assistance.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | At or below 80 percent of area median income. |
| Workshops | Family-centered classes on finances, home maintenance, and community. |
| Sweat equity | The affiliate's pages give two figures: a minimum of 250 hours per signer on the homeownership page, and 350 hours on its about page. |
| Down-payment help | Up to $50,000 for homes purchased within St. Louis city limits. |
Since 2008 every new home has been built to LEED Platinum standard or higher.
Applications and information come through the homeownership line at 314-371-0400, extension 632, and the affiliate offers informational sessions. The site does not post fixed application dates, so calling is the way to learn the current process.
The affiliate notes it fields more than 5,000 calls a year from people interested in homeownership, so it is worth starting early.
Habitat Saint Louis runs two ReStores, the South Side store at 3830 South Grand Boulevard and the Des Peres store at 2117 Sams Drive, open Tuesday through Sunday and selling donated building materials and furnishings. They take drop-off donations and offer free pickup of larger items across St. Louis City and County.
A home repair program launched in 2022 with the City of St. Louis to provide health and safety repairs, but as of late 2025 it is unfunded and not accepting applications, so check the affiliate's site for its current status.
Volunteers can work on a build site at 16 with an adult chaperone, or at 18 on their own, and at the ReStore at 16; build-site volunteers complete a new volunteer orientation first. You register through the volunteer portal.
Habitat Saint Louis raises about 95 percent of its operating budget locally and holds a three-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 77 percent score and all four accountability beacons completed. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 58-1735543.
LEED Platinum homes sold with an affordable mortgage.
Up to $50,000 for homes bought within city limits.
Two stores, South Side and Des Peres, with free pickup.
A city partnership program, currently unfunded and paused.
Family-centered workshops on finances and maintenance.
Every new home built to LEED Platinum since 2008.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis (habitatstl.org) homeownership, about, home-repair, and ReStore pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 58-1735543). The mortgage interest rate is not published, and the two posted sweat-equity figures are given as published. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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