New affordable homes bring hope, community to Tooele County
by Tyrese Boone ksl · KSL.comKEY TAKEAWAYS
- Habitat for Humanity is expanding affordable housing in Tooele County and beyond.
- Participants complete financial education and contribute 200 hours of "sweat equity."
- Applications for the program reopen in June offering zero-percent interest mortgages.
TOOELE — For Hawa Omar, the dream of owning a home once felt uncertain. Now, thanks to Habitat for Humanity, that dream is within reach — not just for her, but for her daughter, too.
"We're both very excited since It's just her and I," Omar said. "So, it's something that will be our own home. We will be stable. We won't have to worry about moving anywhere."
Omar is one of several future homeowners benefiting from Habitat for Humanity's affordable housing program, which is expanding its impact across northern Utah. The organization has already completed four homes in Tooele County, with additional builds underway in Davis and Weber counties.
After moving to Utah a few years ago and navigating personal challenges, Omar said she found hope through the program. She applied at the end of 2024 after hearing about it from her mother and was accepted.
However, Habitat's program is about more than just handing over keys.
Participants must complete 25 hours of financial education and contribute 200 hours of "sweat equity," working alongside volunteers to help build homes and learn essential maintenance skills.
"We bring people together to build homes, community and hope," said Habitat for Humanity CEO Carin Crowe. "That's what we do, and we believe in the strength of homeownership. Affordable homeownership is really the key."
The program is designed for families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Those selected receive a 0% interest mortgage, making long-term stability more attainable.
For Omar, the experience has already meant more than just a future address.
"Being with Habitat, creating that community and connection with other people kind of gives me hope," she said. "Even if I didn't end up in the home."
Habitat for Humanity plans to open its next round of applications in June. Those interested in applying or learning more about the program can visit Habitat for Humanity's website.
As more homes rise from the ground in Tooele County and beyond, so do the possibilities — for stability, for community, and for families ready to start a new chapter.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
Related topics
Utah housingFamilyUpliftingUtahTooele County
Tyrese Boone
Tyrese Boone is a morning reporter at KSL TV. Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in Digital & Print Journalism. He is passionate about community‑focused storytelling.