After he and his wife sold the Whitefish business they had owned for a dozen years and he worked for a couple of other area businesses, Chris Hyatt realized it was his time to give back to his community and society.

That decision led to his job as executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley and to his run for, and subsequent election to, the Whitefish City Council. Hyatt took the reins at Habitat on April 1, 2010.

Hyatt and his wife owned Ski Mountain Sports for 12 years in downtown Whitefish.

He grew up on the family orchard at Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake and received a degree in organizational communication from Colorado State University.

His transition to the nonprofit housing organization came after he'd met with the Habitat board president. Hyatt became convinced that Habitat "had done some great things" in the Flathead and he wanted to be part of helping the organization move forward.

So he accepted the job as executive director.

Prior Habitat leaders had done a great job getting Habitat to its current point, Hyatt said, and he was excited at the chance to continue and expand upon those efforts.

The major objective of Habitat is to help families own decent, affordable houses, Hyatt said.

Habitat houses are new but relatively simple, Hyatt said - "simple, decent and affordable."

Habitat officials have learned "if you put too much money into the first nine houses you don't get to build No. 10," he said.

He uses the term "a hand up" when talking about Habitat. People who qualify to own a Habitat for Humanity house do so for many reasons, ranging from people who have incurred huge medical debts to families in which a parent died to "any multitude of things."

Habitat homeowners have to qualify in part based on how much money they earn. Their household income must fall between 20 and 60 percent of the median area income.

Habitat homeowners are required to invest 500 hours of "sweat equity" into their new homes by participating in the construction effort. In exchange, the owners get an interest-free mortgage loan. The houses are on the tax rolls and owners pay all the other costs associated with owning property, he said.

Money from the mortgage payments is reinvested into building more Habitat houses.

The prospective homeowners also are required to complete a 12-week class on financial responsibility and home ownership.

The sweat equity substitutes as a down payment from the homeowner and also shows Habitat officials how willing the homeowner is to partner in the venture.

Their partnership effort is usually an indication, too, Hyatt said, of how willing the homeowner will be to get involved in other community projects. So far, it's always worked out that once a homeowner has been helped by Habitat, that person wants to help someone else, Hyatt said.

Overall, Habitat helps strengthen the community by building on the pride of homeownership and community involvement.

Would Hyatt be happy to work himself out of a job because the valley reaches a point where everyone who wants to own a house can?

Sure, he says.

"It would be absolutely wonderful if we weren't needed, but we are." So he and Habitat plan to continue in their quest to "reach out and help" people who need their help.

Habitat for Humanity began operating in the Flathead in 1989.

To date, the organization has completed 33 homes throughout the county and has plans to construct 16 townhomes in Columbia Falls in the next four years. Habitat officials still are looking for families who will occupy all 16 homes, he said. Ground was broken May 11 on the first two units.

Habitat appreciates the many area businesses that donate such services as design and engineering work and donate materials or sell materials to Habitat at reduced prices. Without those "incredible partners," Hyatt says his job would be a lot more difficult.

"We couldn't ask for a greater community," he said. "This community is amazing."

Habitat operates as a lean machine, he said. Besides Hyatt, three people work full time for the group. Habitat's ReStore, a retail outlet where donated building materials are sold, has a paid manager and is staffed by a crew of volunteers.

Habitat has endorsed the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle, he said, and that approach is especially evident at the ReStore, which accepts donations of used or unneeded building materials and sells the goods at a reduced price.

The ReStore profits pay all of Habitat's administrative overhead costs in the Flathead, Hyatt said, allowing for any donations to the organization to be used directly to offset costs of building houses. Hyatt is proud that Habitat spends just 6 percent of its budget on administrative costs.

"We run a tight ship," he said.

The ReStore, at 215 W. Idaho St. in Kalispell, is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More volunteers always are needed at the ReStore, he said. Habitat always is looking for people to help on its construction projects, too.

People can contact the Habitat office in Kalispell at 257-8800 to find out more or to volunteer.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.