Habitat For Humanity International Inc

BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO BUILD HOMES, COMMUNITIES AND HOPE.

HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM: FAMILIES IN NEED OF A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE BUILD SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US. HABITAT HOUSES ARE MODESTLY SIZED. THEY ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE HOMEOWNER FAMILY'S NEEDS, BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO KEEP CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AFFORDABLE. BY USING LABOR OF VOLUNTEERS AND PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS, EMPLOYING EFFICIENT BUILDING METHODS, KEEPING HOUSE SIZES MODEST, USING DONATED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES, AND ISSUING NO-PROFIT LOANS, HABITAT MAKES ITS HOUSES AFFORDABLE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO PURCHASE. AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP HELPS CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT FREE FAMILIES FROM INSTABILITY, STRESS AND FEAR, AND ENCOURAGE SELF-RELIEANCE AND CONFIDENCE. STUDIES SHOW THAT STRONG AND STABLE HOUSEHOLDS ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. WHEN A HOME FOSTERS - INSTEAD OF HINDERS - HEALTH AND SAFETY, FAMILIES CAN FLOURISH. OWNING AN AFFORDABLE HOME ALSO ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO LIFT UP THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY BY SAVING FOR THEIR FUTURES AND INVESTING IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BOLSTERING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER GROWTH. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, GREATHER FOX CITIES AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SERVED MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE THROUGH ITS LONG-TERM HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM.

RESTORE PROGRAM: WE OPERATE TWO "RESTORES," WHICH ARE BUILDING MATERIALS OUTLETS AND RECYCLING CENTERS. DONATED PRODUCTS ARE SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT LESS THAN 50% OF THE RETAIL COST. THE STORES HAVE THREE PRIMARY BENEFITS. FIRST, PROFITS FROM SALES FUND THE BUILDING OF ADDITIONAL HOMES FOR QUALIFIED FAMILIES. SECOND, WE DIVERT WASTE PRODUCTS FROM THE LANDFILL AND ENCOURAGE REUSE AND RECYCLING. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 565 TONS OF MATERIAL WERE DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL. FINALLY, DISCOUNTED PRODUCTS ALLOW FAMILIES AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAKE UPGRADES TO THEIR OWN HOMES THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION & HOME PRESERVATION PROGRAMS: THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION WORK, WE TAILOR OUR EFFORTS BY PARTNERING LOCALLY WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BEST ADDRESS THE REAL CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. USING A DATA-DRIVEN AND CUSTOMIZABLE APPROACH, WE FOCUS ON FIRST UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS AND THEN EMPOWERING THESE RESIDENTS TO LEAD THE PROJECTS THEY WANT TO SEE. ALONGSIDE HABITAT, RESIDENTS WORK WITH CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, NEW AND LONGSTANDING NEIGHBORHOOD COALITIONS, LOCAL GOVERNEMENT ENTITIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.BECAUSE EACH NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHALLENGES AND ASPIRATIONS ARE DIFFERENT, THE FRAMEWORK ACTS AS A GUIDE THAT CAN BE TAILORED TO THE GOALS OF EACH COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CAN LOOK LIKE ANYTHING FROM DEVELOPING PUBLIC PARKS TO ORGANIZING SAFETY MEETINGS WITH THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REHABBING AND REOPENING SCHOOLS, STORES AND HOMES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 61 PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.OUR HOME PRESERVATION PROGRAM IS AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS, INCLUDING VETERANS AND SENIORS, WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF AGE, DISABILITY OR FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES. WE PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO HELP THEM RECLAIM THEIR HOMES WITH PRIDE AND DIGNITY. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS FAMILIES TO STAY IN THEIR HOME AND AVOID THE UNCERTAINTY, TRAUMA AND EXPENSE OF MOVING. PROJECTS CONSIST OF INTERIOR AND/OR EXTERIOR REPAIRS INTENDED TO ALLEVIATE CRITICAL HEALTH, LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUES OR CODE VIOLATIONS. VOLUNTEER TEAMS WORK ALONG WITH SUBCONTRACTORS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GREATER FOX CITIES AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY STAFF MEMBERS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, GREATER FOX CITIES AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SERVED 12 HOMEOWNERS IN OUR HOME PRESERVATION PROGRAM.

FINANCIAL AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION PROGRAMS: AS PART OF THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROCESS, WE BELIEVE FINANCIAL EDUCATION BUILDS A MORE SOLID FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM PERSONAL SUCCESS AND HELPS ALLEVIATE ANY CONCERNS OR BARRIERS ON THE PATH TO HOMEONWERSHIP. DURING THESE FINANCIAL EDUCATION CLASSES, WE COVER TOPICS SUCH AS BUDGETING; CREDIT CARDS AND CREDIT REPORTS; DEBT AND LOANS; SAVING, INVESTING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE; EMERGENCY SITUATIONS; AND HABITAT HOMEOWNER MORTGAGES. A MORE IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THESE IMPORTANT CONCEPTS IS A TOOL THAT CAN BE USED TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE. GREATER FOX CITIES AREA FOR HUMANITY HAS CONDUCTED 28 FINANCIAL AND HOMEBUYER WORKSHOPS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.ALMOST HOME PROGRAM: ALMOST HOME PROVIDES WRAP AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO THOSE ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARD HOME OWNERSHIP AND PARTNER FAMILIES AT RISK OF DELINQUENCY. SERVICES OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE ASSISTANCE, FINDING OR IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVING CREDIT RATING, BUDGETING AND RESOLVING FAMILY OR HEALTH ISSUES. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE HOMES THAT CAN BE RENTED UP TO 24 MONTHS BY FAMILIES WHO ARE PART OF THE ALMOST HOME PROGRAM. THE RENTALS PROVIDE A BRIDGE TO HOME OWNERSHIP AND PROVIDES AN AVENUE FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE EITHER IN AN UNSAFE OR UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING SITUATION. THE SUCCESSFUL THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 119 PEOPLE PER YEAR AND HAS BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR IN REDUCING HABITAT HOMEOWNERS DELINQUENCY RATES TO WELL BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.