Causes: Christianity, Homeless & Housing, Housing Development, Construction & Management, Religion

Mission: Habitat for humanity winona-fillmore counties is a non-profit, ecumenical, grassroots christian ministry. Its primary goal is to eliminate sub-standard housing and homelessness by partnering with community members to construct simple, decent and affordable homes. To help achieve that goal, habitat for humanity winona-fillmore counties also operates the habitat restore which provides all community members the opportunity to improve their current living conditions affordably by purchasing discounted building materials and home furnishings.

Programs: In partnership with the community at large and prospective families, habitat constructs and repairs simple, decent, and affordable homes. Since 1994, the organization has served 50 families by constructing new homes. Each homeowner completes at least 300 hours of "sweat equity" work during the construction of their home. They purchase the home from habitat for humanity with a 30-year, 0% interest mortgage. Additionally, habitat for humanity repairs owner-occupied homes through a program called a brush with kindness. Since 2012, when the program began, approximately 87 families have been helped with exterior repairs. Recipients of the a brush with kindness program pay for the materials needed and a small administrative fee. All volunteer labor is donated. Approximately 3,500 volunteer hours were donated by community members during the last fiscal year for new home construction and repair projects combined. No homes were built during the fiscal year and 31 a brush with kindness repair projects were completed.

the restore is a retail outlet operated by habitat for humanity winona- fillmore counties that sells new, used, and surplus construction materials and home furnishings. Materials are donated by local businesses and individuals and are available to be purchased by the general public. These reduced-price building materials contribute to the improvement of housing stock in winona and fillmore counties by homeowners who may not have been able to afford retail priced materials. Net profits from the restore are given back to the habitat for humanity winona-fillmore counties affiliate to support the work of building and repairing simple, decent, and affordable homes in winona and fillmore counties. Approximately 4,500 volunteer hours were donated by community members during the last fiscal year to operate the restore.