Habitat’s Home Repair Program would not be possible without the generosity of our program sponsors:

Featured Story

Janet Duman talks about the impact the Clarkston Affordable Home Repair program had on her family. In partnership with the City of Clarkston, L-C Valley Habitat saved her home.

Click here to listen to a short clip of Janet telling her story.

Janet Duman had to retire early due to back issues. She has limited mobility and cannot do home repairs herself. She has lived in her home since 1983 and knew it needed significant repairs.

When it rained, she had to place a towel in the middle of her kitchen table. If it was a heavy rain, the towel would be soaked and start dripping on her floor. On the exterior, the soffit was falling apart. There were also some significant drywall repairs necessary due to water damage.

Janet lives off of Social Security and could not afford the $10,000 new roof she had been quoted. That’s when she found the Clarkston Affordable Home Repair Program through L-C Valley Habitat for Humanity. Janet says, “Habitat for Humanity gave me a huge blessing. They saved my home.” It was reassuring to her that she didn’t have to worry about the contractors coming back and asking for large sums of money as they progressed through the repairs, because she just didn’t have it to give them.

Her COPD, in addition to the back problems, make it impossible for her to even do interior painting. She didn’t have to worry about any of it. In her words, “I was able to sit there and say holy moly, I’m just so grateful.”

All CAHR project homeowners are required to complete 25 hours of sweat equity in addition to paying a manageable amount to cover the cost of repairs. Janet loves our ReStore and opted to do her sweat equity as a volunteer in the store. She told us that she would have gladly done 100 hours in exchange for a completely new roof.

She summed up the impact for her by saying, “For the rest of my life, and I’m 63, I don’t have to worry about this stuff anymore because it’s going to be fixed.”

Program Information

Clarkston Affordable Home Repair (CAHR) Program

At Habitat for Humanity, we believe everyone deserves a decent place to live. In addition to building new homes in the valley, we also make affordable home repairs in Clarkston city limits..

Working in partnership with the City of Clarkston and Washington State Department of Commerce, LCVHFH is offering a Clarkston Affordable Home Repair (CAHR) Program.

The CAHR helps families address critical needs in their homes by focusing on safety, accessibility and meeting municipal codes. By offering home repairs for no or low cost, the program will help preserve and ensure safe, decent, and affordable housing in Clarkston. Our program provides repairs and ADA modifications for low-income homeowners, such as those who are disabled or on a fixed income, so residents can continue to live safely and independently.

This programs is NOT available for:

  • Landlords or property management companies
  • Owners of mobile homes

Clarkston Affordable Home Repair Program Possible Repairs:

  • Porch and step repairs
  • Exterior door repair and replacements
  • Roof and chimney repairs
  • Broken window repairs
  • Interior code violations
  • Plumbing hazards
  • Electrical hazards
  • HVAC repairs
  • Foundation repairs
  • Structural repairs
  • Tree hazards
  • Gutters
  • Installation of smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors

NOTE: For exterior home repairs, see our Brush with Kindness (BWK) program

The three major criteria for selection into L-C Valley Habitat for Humanity (LCVHFH) Clarkston Affordable Home Repair program are:

  • Need
  • Willingness and Ability to Accept Financial Responsibility
  • Willingness to Partner with LCVHFH

 NEED: The homeowner must currently live in housing that is unsafe or otherwise in poor condition, such as

  • Structural deficiencies
  • Safety issues
  • Health-related deficiencies
  • Livability issues
  • The homeowner must be unable to perform the repairs themselves
  • The homeowner must be unable to afford to pay someone to do the repairs
  • The total household income must fall below the levels listed below:

Family Size Maximum Income*:

Household Size Maximum Median Gross Income to Qualify for CAHR
1 $44,800
2 $51,200
3 $57,600
4 $64,000
5 $69,150

*Income guidelines are subject to change.  The above figures are the 2022 Income Limits (effective 6/15/22) CDBG Non-Entitlement Areas by County.  Please call the LCV HFH administrative office for households over 5 persons.

WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • The homeowner must be able to pay $100 deposit at time of signing agreement.
  • The homeowner must be able to pay 5%-20% of the costs of materials.  The percentage is based on income and can be paid in monthly installments.

 WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER

  • The homeowner must obtain and provide the required documentation and information by the given deadlines.
  • The homeowner must be honest and cooperative with LCVHFH.
  • The homeowner must perform sweat equity to the extent that they are physically able to do so.

 What is Sweat Equity?

Sweat Equity refers to the work that the homeowner performs with LCVHFH on the repair project for their home. Sweat Equity is key to the success of the Habitat program.  Working alongside volunteers to repair homes is one of the most unique and rewarding aspects of Habitat for Humanity.  For homeowners unable to work with CAHR on their home, other accommodations to volunteer will be made.

  1. Own and occupy a home that needs repairs as defined above. 
  2. Be within city limits of Clarkston, WA
  3. Meet income guidelines based on chart in previous section (INCOME).
  4. You are unable to complete repair project due to age, disability, or other circumstances (NEED).
  5. You are willing to complete 24 hours of “sweat equity” working with L-C Valley Habitat for Humanity on your home or other Habitat volunteer opportunities (WILLINGNESS TO HELP).
  6. Pay  a $100 non-refundable deposit, and 5% to or 20% of materials cost for the project.  The payback is determined on a sliding scale based upon income.  An affordable payment schedule will be set up to pay your percentage of material costs.

  1. At the time of selection, homeowner must intend to continue to reside in the home as primary residence for no less than three years.
  2. Homeowner must be current on all payments including insurance, taxes and mortgage payments.
  3. Must not be any liens against the property, other than mortgage liens.
  4. Applicant must be a homeowner, must live in the home, and the home must be the homeowner’s primary residence.
  5. Homeowner(s) must pass a background check.
  6. Home cannot be used in a manner that violates local, state, and federal law.
  7. Family must agree to continue to maintain the home to the best of their ability (keep neat, clean, and in good repair) so as not to reduce its value or that of the neighborhood.

The CAHR program is not longer excepting application due to limitations of grant funding.

Please upload or send copies of the following documents:

*Originals will not be returned, but copies can be made in our office, by appointment.

  1. Your newest income tax return.
    • If you did not file taxes for this past year, please provide a letter, signed by you, that states you did not file taxes and the reason why.
  2. Your last 2 paycheck stubs or other proof of income.
  3. Your last 2 bank statements showing all checking, saving, and loan balances.
    • If you do not have a bank account, please write that on the application.
    • Proof of child support or public assistance.
    • This includes SSI, TANF, Social Security, disability, food stamps, etc.
  4. Proof of home ownership.
    • Deed of Trust or recent property tax receipt.