Catholic Charities, 825 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, US

HistoryOur Track Record: As of August, 2008, HFH-GE has housed 136 children and completed 39 homes. Our first home was completed in 1992. An additional three houses will be under construction by December 2008. In addition to building in the greater Bakersfield area, Habitat builds homes throughout Kern County, including Taft, Arvin, Tehachapi, and Delano. Homeowner families are selected on the basis of: 1) need for adequate housing; 2) ability to repay a no-interest mortgage; and 3) willingness to partner with Habitat. Habitat homes in Kern County sell for about $80,000 which is far below the current Kern County median home price of around $238,000. Monthly payments on a no-interest Habitat mortgage are about $500. Habitat houses in Kern County are about 1,100 square feet for a 3-bedroom, one-bathroom plan. It takes about 18 weeks to complete a Habitat house, with most work performed by volunteers on Saturdays.SpecialtiesWe are a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness around the world. Our mission is to make decent housing a matter of conscience. Our affiliate, HFH-GE, carries out the Habitat mission in Kern County, by inviting people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need