Just the Facts: A Look at Repayment Rates

Most Habitat homeowners—more than 80 percent—are current on their mortgage payments, according to a survey of U.S. Habitat for Humanity affiliates conducted in February 2000.* Of the homeowners who were late in making their payments, 8.5 percent were 31-60 days late and less than 5 percent were 61-90 days late. As of January 2000, the total number of foreclosures for all U.S. affiliates all years was 313, or 1.2 percent.

Understanding that circumstances such as illness or job changes can impact a family’s ability to make payments, Habitat for Humanity affiliates worldwide that seek ways to prevent delinquency.

Here’s how Cincinnati (Ohio) HFH handles this tough situation.

Initially, if a homeowner is late with a house payment, Cincinnati HFH’s family services manager sends a letter and follows up with a phone call. Then, if a homeowner falls two payments behind, a “work-out” meeting is scheduled with the homeowner, family services manager and board treasurer to discuss the reason the homeowner has been unable to make payments. The homeowner then proposes a plan to get back on track by adding slightly to their monthly payments.


*In February 2000, a random sample of Habitat affiliates was chosen to participate in the 1999 U.S. Affiliate Demographic Survey. Of all affiliates recognized before Jan. 1, 2000, about 500 were selected for the survey, and of those, 339 responded. The statistics cited are subject to an error margin of plus or minus 4.7 percent.


Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, April/May 2001.
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©2001 Habitat for Humanity International