COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Even as lending institutions nationwide struggle over lax lending practices, Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is solid as ever.

Pikes Peak Habitat is currently building six houses. When the houses are finished the group will have built 94 homes. They hope to finish number 100 in 2009.

Paul Johnson, executive director of the agency, told the Colorado Springs Gazette "We are the developer, builder, mortgage lender and mortgage holder on every one. And we raise all our money in El Paso County."

Three of the families in Habitat homes in El Paso County have paid off their homes.

Johnson said it was important that Habitat carefully screens every family chosen for help. To qualify for a Habitat house, a family of four must earn at least $17,000 a year but no more than $34,000.

"We're trying to get people into homes they can afford and people who will stay in their homes forever," Johnson told the Gazette. "We are trying to create permanent affordable home ownership."

Typically, Habitat works with bankers to ensure its clients' credit is good. Would-be buyers with bad credit are told to enroll in consumer credit counseling to get their finances fixed before they reapply for a Habitat house.