Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

What Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity does

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that builds, rehabilitates, and preserves affordable homeownership across the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. The organization operates four core programs: (1) the Homeownership Program, which delivers affordable new-construction and rehabilitated homes to low- and moderate-income first-time buyers with financial coaching, down payment assistance, and mortgage financing through a captive lender, TCHFH Lending, Inc. (NMLS #1482482), which offers a 0%-interest product branded TruePath Mortgage; (2) A Brush with Kindness, a home-repair and accessibility-modification program scaled to provide up to $25,000 per homeowner via a City of Minneapolis Regulatory Services partnership; (3) The Heights, a 147-home multi-phase new-construction development in East St. Paul; and (4) ReStore Home Improvement Outlets, a three-location retail chain (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, New Brighton) that resells donated building materials, furniture, and appliances to fund operations. Vehicles are also accepted through a Cars for Homes donation channel.

TCHFH is funded through a combination of individual, corporate, and foundation donations; ReStore retail revenue; volunteer labor; mortgage origination fees; and government grants (including a $2,602,780 CDFI Fund award in April 2023 and a $220,000 Otto Bremer Trust grant in August 2022). The organization is led by CEO Chris Coleman, the former Mayor of St. Paul (2006-2018) and former National League of Cities President, and operates with 101-250 employees. It is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: ReStore Home Improvement Outlets (retail) and TCHFH Lending, Inc. (mortgage).

The organization's go-to-market is community-led: volunteer-driven build sites, corporate and faith partnerships, city-level referrals for repair services, and donor-recognition societies (Builder's Circle, Legacy Circle, Carpenter's Club). Pricing of homes is governed by affordability calculations per buyer rather than market pricing, and revenue/expense data are not publicly disclosed. Distribution is dual-channel — physical ReStore outlets for thrift retail and direct program delivery for housing services — and the marketing mix combines content (blogs, DIY HQ, ReStore content), earned media (WCCO DIY Friday segments), paid digital (Google and Facebook remarketing), and community events including AmeriCorps, Women Build, and Carter Work Project 2024.

Name

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Legal name

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Website

https://tchabitat.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds, rehabilitates, and finances affordable homes for low-to-moderate-income households across the seven-county Twin Cities metro and funds operations through three ReStore thrift-retail locations and a broad volunteer, corporate, and government partnership ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Homeownership programs
• Home repair services
• Nonprofit homebuilding
• ReStore retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual, corporate, and foundation donations support affordable homeownership programs, home repair services, and operational costs.
2. ReStore Sales: Home improvement retail outlets sell donated building materials, furniture, and home goods, with proceeds supporting Habitat's mission.
3. Homeownership Program Fees: Affordable homes sold to qualified buyers through homeownership programs with mortgage financing via TCHFH Lending, Inc.
4. Donated Materials and Vehicles: Accepts donations of vehicles through Cars for Homes program and building materials that are resold through ReStore outlets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity builds, rehabilitates, and finances affordable homes for low- and moderate-income households in the Twin Cities seven-county metro through its Homeownership Program and TruePath Mortgage product, funded by individual, corporate, and foundation donations. The organization generates supplementary revenue through three ReStore home improvement thrift outlets that resell donated building materials and home goods, and delivers home repair and accessibility services via the A Brush With Kindness program in partnership with the City of Minneapolis.

Product overview

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity operates a portfolio of interconnected housing and retail programs. Core offerings include the Homeownership Program (providing first-time homebuyer support, TruePath Mortgage financing, and down payment assistance) and A Brush With Kindness home repair services. The ReStore Home Improvement Outlets network (three retail locations plus online store) sells donated home improvement materials and funds Habitat operations. Major development projects like The Heights (147 homes in St. Paul) represent new construction. Donor engagement programs (Builder's Circle, Legacy Circle, Carpenter's Club) recognize financial contributors. DIY HQ provides educational content. The organization serves the seven-county Twin Cities metro through these coordinated services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TruePath Mortgage: Mortgage program by Habitat offering financing to low and moderate income households in the metro area
• A Brush with Kindness
• The Heights
• Builder's Circle
• Legacy Circle
• Carpenter's Club
• Advancing Black Homeownership
• Open Road Fund

Products and services

• ReStore Home Improvement Outlets Home improvement thrift retail outlets selling donated new and gently used building materials, appliances, furniture, and home goods. Operates three locations and offers donation pickup services, with resale revenue funding Habitat's affordable homeownership programs.
• Homeownership Program Comprehensive program helping first-time homebuyers achieve affordable homeownership through personalized support, financial coaching, down payment assistance, and mortgage products. Serves low and moderate income households in the seven-county Twin Cities metro.
• TruePath Mortgage by Habitat Mortgage product available to low and moderate income households through TCHFH Lending, Inc., offering favorable terms for affordable homeownership financing as part of the Homeownership Program.
• A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) Home repair program that helps homeowners remain safely and stably housed through critical home repairs, accessibility improvements, and exterior maintenance. Operates in partnership with the City of Minneapolis Regulatory Services, which refers code-cited homeowners into the program.
• The Heights Development Large-scale affordable housing development in Saint Paul's Greater East Side, comprising 147 affordable homes including single-family homes, twin homes, and rowhomes across multiple phases, available to income-eligible first-time homebuyers.
• Home Repair Services Services including critical home repairs, accessibility modifications, and mortgage foreclosure prevention to help existing homeowners maintain stability and remain in their homes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $25,000 per homeowner for critical home repairs through A Brush with Kindness program (increased from $3,000 pilot)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Minneapolis - Regulatory Services DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021City partnership expanded significantly in 2021 with ARPA funding, providing up to $25,000 per homeowner for critical repairs through A Brush with Kindness program. Housing inspectors refer struggling homeowners to Habitat's repair program instead of issuing repeated fines.
• City of Minneapolis - Resident NavigatorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Innovative referral-based program pilot in 2019 where housing inspectors refer homeowners directly to Navigator evaluation and Habitat's A Brush with Kindness program for holistic support.
• NeighborWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeownership organization partner providing additional support referrals for homeowners with needs beyond Habitat's scope.
• Rebuilding TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome repair nonprofit partner for referral and support services in home preservation work.
• Hearts & HammersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome repair nonprofit partner providing additional resources for homeowners in need.
• City of Minneapolis - Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity department providing funding, land, and development support for affordable homeownership projects.
• PaintCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaint recycling program partner; ReStore serves as a drop-off site for Paint Care paint recycling program, accepting up to 5 gallons per visit with original labels.
• Homes Within ReachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Minnetonka Mills Twinhomes project, creating transformational affordable homeownership opportunities alongside Mills Church and community partners.
• Mills ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith partner providing land and support for Minnetonka Mills Twinhomes affordable housing development, celebrating groundbreaking June 10.
• Advancing Black Homeownership Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership initiative focused on closing the racial homeownership gap through targeted programs supporting Black families in achieving homeownership.
• Open Road FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial initiative helping build Black wealth through homeownership support, with fund open for applications from June 19 to July 25 annually.
• Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partnership advancing racial equity in housing through policy initiatives and ecosystem building.
• Mapping PrejudiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Minnesota Libraries project documenting racial covenants; partnership to advance awareness of housing segregation history.
• Muska LightingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness donor of new lighting fixtures and products to ReStore outlets; established lighting solutions provider since 1919.
• ProSource WholesaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale business donor with 160 locations nationwide providing kitchen, bath, and building materials to ReStore outlets.
• SpaceTurtle ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesign-build firm business donor specializing in residential and commercial projects.
• University of St. ThomasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through class collaboration with Professor Yayu Feng's students working on ReStore projects and research.
• WCCO-TVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal CBS affiliate television station featuring regular DIY Friday segments with ReStore Manager Jan Hagerman, providing media exposure and community engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Aeon: Twin Cities nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator. Comparable in building and managing affordable housing in the same metro area, though primarily focused on rental rather than for-sale homeownership like Twin Cities Habitat.
• Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Minneapolis-based affordable housing and workforce development nonprofit. Builds and preserves affordable rental and ownership housing in the Twin Cities, sharing the same mission geography and target population as Twin Cities Habitat.
• Minneapolis Public Housing Authority: Government housing authority administering public housing and Section 8 vouchers in Minneapolis. Operates in the same affordable housing space serving overlapping low-income households, though via direct government subsidy rather than volunteer-built homeownership.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: The global parent network providing brand, training, and operational standards to Twin Cities Habitat and hundreds of other U.S. affiliates. Comparable in that it operates the broader affordable housing mission and shared funding channels like Cars for Homes.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that develops and preserves affordable housing, including programs targeting Black homeownership and wealth-building. Operates initiatives similar to Twin Cities Habitat's Advancing Black Homeownership program but at significantly larger scale.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Twin Cities: National CDFI with deep Twin Cities presence funding affordable housing development, lending, and community development. Comparable mission of expanding affordable homeownership in underserved communities, with a broader financial intermediary role.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region: Comparable-sized Habitat affiliate serving another major U.S. metro area. Provides a useful external benchmark for a Habitat affiliate operating a multi-program model including ReStore, home repair, and large-scale new construction.

Direct peers

• NeighborWorks Home Partners: Twin Cities-based nonprofit that provides homeownership counseling, financing, and foreclosure prevention for low- and moderate-income households. Mentioned as a referral partner for cases outside Habitat's scope, serving a near-identical customer segment with adjacent services.
• Greater Minneapolis Habitat for Humanity: A separate Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving the Minneapolis area, operating homeownership and home repair programs with a comparable volunteer-powered, affordable housing model. Both affiliates share the Habitat International umbrella and serve overlapping Twin Cities geographies.
• Rebuilding Together Twin Cities: Local affiliate of Rebuilding Together focused on critical home repairs for low-income homeowners, particularly elderly and disabled residents. Directly comparable to the A Brush with Kindness program and explicitly listed as a Twin Cities Habitat referral partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tchabitat
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/tchabitat
• Facebookfacebook.com/tchabitat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/twin-cities-habitat-for-humanity
• Instagraminstagram.com/tchabitat

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity