Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley, Inc.

  2026 AT A GLANCE

  Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley (HFH-MV) is a non-profit 501 (C) 3 affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI).    A group of concerned citizens formed the first volunteer board of HFH-MV and it was incorporated in 1991. HFH-MV serves Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Blaine, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties. 2026 is our 35th year of service to the Magic Valley!

  Habitat International is a non-profit, nondenominational Christian housing ministry founded in 1976. It’s Mission: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Over 65 million people have been helped by Habitat housing programs globally. Locally, 312 individuals have benefited from our home building; 103 adults and 209 children under shelter.

HFH-MV has built/remodeled 46 homes and served 62 Families: Twin Falls (44), Bellevue (1), Rupert (1), Burley (2), Wendell (1), Hansen (2), Jerome (4), Kimberly (2), Buhl (3), Castleford (2).  HFH-MV holds the “Right of First Refusal” on all our mortgages and buys the home back if the family no longer wants the home.  This process keeps our homes in the “affordable” housing market for as long as possible.  If a Habitat partner pays off the note the home is theirs to do as they wish. Up until then, we have been partners, and we will purchase the home back for all that they have given us up to that point, they have a great savings account and a fresh start.  We then select a new family, remodel the home to new condition and sell it again to that qualified family. 

  Unless designated “for local use,” HFH-MV make a yearly tithe to Habitat International for home building and disaster response overseas. And have thus built an additional 59 homes through donations to our international partners building hope and homes around the world.

Habitat is a hand up, not a handout. Homeowners are selected based on need, ability to purchase the home, willingness to put in 300-500 hours helping build the home (“sweat equity”), and other financial criteria. Habitat follows federal fair housing law, serving individuals regardless of their faith, ethnicity, age, etc. The homeowner buys the home for an affordable, income-based mortgage, and the mortgage payments help build the next home. Habitat acts as the bank and offers homes at cost with a zero-interest rate note.

A typical Habitat home is 1200 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Habitat homes cost $150,000, excluding land. Habitat homes are built with energy star standards and accessibility in mind. They can be modified to fit the future homeowner’s household size and specific needs. Volunteer labor and donations keep Habitat homes affordable. 

  Unless materials and land are donated, HFH-MV purchases building materials with gifts from local donors, fundraisers, ReStore sales, and monthly mortgage payments (Build Fund) from current homeowners. Our largest fundraisers are Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge (last 3 weeks of the year) and the Rim2Rim Race4Homes (weekend after Labor day).

Funds donated to HFH-MV are used in our Magic Valley and support this area’s economy. We shop locally for skilled sub-contractors and building materials. Habitat homeowners pay taxes like any other homeowner, supporting local schools and government.  Owning a home creates generational wealth and breaks the circle of poverty for many of our families.  We have watched as 6 of our Partner Families have become business owners in this town.  A home is very stabilizing for everyone in the family.  A Habitat home is lifechanging! 

 Through selling donated home improvement and décor materials we have a weekly fundraiser. Our ReStore has doubled in size 4 times since opening in 2006.  Anyone can shop or donate, and proceeds help build Habitat homes. The ReStore covers virtually 100% of our overhead costs, every dollar donated goes to the Build Fund with the help of the ReStore.   Volunteers are welcome to shop, help serve customers, clean and repair donated items.  To date, the HFH-MV ReStore has saved over 8.7 million pounds of good usable items from our local landfill.  It is a recycling effort for the community that brings items to the public at less than 50% of retail prices, a win-win for all. We celebrate 20 years of recycling in 2026!

  HFH-MV is currently building a townhome in Castleford with 2 families.  Homes are scheduled to be completed in June of 2026. Two single mothers will move into these new homes with their children. One coming from a 5th wheel trailer and the other from couch surfing with friends.  

  Family Selection for the 2026-2027 build season is underway with 22 families.  We had inquiries from over 169 families in need of affordable housing in the Magic Valley area.  We are poised to select less than 4 due to funding.  Idaho must do more to see the need and fund programs like Habitat so more families can be served and housed quicker.

Volunteer, Donate, Learn more at: www.HabitatMagicValley.org