Habitat For Humanity International Inc

Programs: We completed construction on 17 new homes this fiscal year, partnering with deserving families in need of a safe, decent and affordable home. Of these homes 12 were new construction and five were rehabiliation. Approved partner families make a down-payment on their home and complete 300-500 hours of "sweat equity" before moving in, then make monthly payments on an interest-free mortgage once they take ownership. Volunteers contributed 80,762 hours of work during the fiscal year.

we operate the "restore," a building materials outlet and recycling center. Donated products are sold to the general public at less than 50% of the retail cost. The store has 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 577 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.

our neighborhood revitalization program provides critical home repairs to deal with health and safety issues within the home as well as making homes more energy efficient and appealing to the neighborhood. These services are provided to owner-occupied homes of low-income families. This program operates very similar to our new home program. The work is done primarily by volunteers and the homeowners must invest sweat equity on their project as well as pay back an interest-free loan to us. The goal of this program is to keep families safe, warm and healthy in their homes while revitalizing the neighborhoods they live in. To enhance our neighborhood revitalization program we offer rock the block events, whereby residents, municipalities and community parnters collaborate with us in targeted neighborhoods during a concentrated period of time to complete home repair and preservation projects for low-income homeowners, and community projects to improve and beautify the neighborhood surrounding the homes. During the fiscal year, 10 home repair and 50 rock the block projects were completed for our neighborhood revitalization program.

homeowner education: staff and volunteers taught 23 educational/ training courses for applicants, current homeowners, and past homeowners to help prepare them for the responsibility of home-ownership. Courses range from home maintenance to landscaping to budget counseling. By offering these courses, habitat helps families to stay in their homes and maintain the quality of their neighborhood. Almost home program: almost home is a collaboration with goodwill industries that 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 unafforable housing situation. The successful nine-year-old program currently serves over 85 people per year and has been a major factor in reducing habitat homeowners delinquency rates to well below the national average.