Habitat for Humanity - Fox Cities Area HFH Greater

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, 13 families achieved home ownership through our homeownership program.

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. We work alongside residents, community partners, faith partners and other service groups to revitalize community spaces, homes, schools and buildings needing improvement. 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. In addition, we offer services to mitigate the health risks from lead ingestion to eligible homeowners. We focused on 2 communities in our neighborhood revitalization program and served 69 families through our home preservation programs in fiscal year 2023.

Restore program: due to recovery challenges related to the covid-19 pandemic, we closed one of our "restores" this year and cosolidated operations into one store. The "restore," is a home improvement and donation center selling new and genly used furniture, appliances, home goods, building materials and more. Donated products are sold to the general public at less than 50% of the retail cost. The restore 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, nearly 486 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.

Financial and homebuyer education programs: as part of the homeownership process, we believe 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 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, mortgages, health and home safety, home maintenance and being a good neighbor. A more in-depth understanding of these important concepts is a tool that can be used to build a better future. In addition, each family in the program is offered a volunteer budget coach. In fiscal year 2023, 40 financial and homebuyer classes were held and over 100 hours of budget coaching were provided for families in the program. 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. Almost home has been a major factor in reducing Habitat homeowners' delinquency rates to well below the national average. In fiscal year 2023, 40 families were served through the almost home program.