HABITAT FOR Humanity - Montezuma County Co HFH of

Habitat for Humanity of Montezuma County operates a ReStore thrift and resale store. Donated merchandise such as building materials, home furnishings, working appliances, other household items, sporting goods, toys, and other items are checked to make sure they work and are safe, and then resold at substantial discounts for county residents as well as residents of the wider Four Corners area, including enrolled tribal members of the Ute Mountain Ute and Navajo Nations. Net revenues from the ReStore provide funds to purcase materials and pay wages in the completion of Program Service Accomplishments of building, repair, and community outreach. The ReStore is operated by paid staff and volunteers. Volunteers include families who have qualified for either a new home or a renovated home and whose volunteer hours are part of their "sweat equity" requirements for the program. The ReStore also sells recyclable materials, primarily metals that cannot be resold, to a local recycler. This provides a small additional revenue for Habitat for Humanity of Montezuma County and removes materials from the waste stream.

Renovation of existing homes through the Habitat for Humanity of Montezuma County "A Brush with Kindness" home rehabilitation program has helped a number of residents stay in safe and more energy-efficient homes. Among the rehabilitation projects areAmericans with Disabilities Act ramps and related modifications, weatherization, removing trash from properties, and other improvements. We work with local suppliers, volunteers, contractors, service agencies, veterans groups, and the community college building trades program. One of the major goals is to help bring some housing up to code, if possible. We work with the county code enforcement officer, electrical inspector, certified electricians, and others to make sure the work is correct and safe. We encourage homeowners and tenants to participate in the renovation projects if they are physically able.

Since its founding in 2008 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat for Humanity of Montezuma County has provided affordable home ownership to ten (10) families in this Southwest Colorado County by building and selling eight (8) homes. Homes are sold to families who pay affordable mortgage payments that lift them out of homelessness or temporary housing. Families also provide "sweat equity" by helping build their homes or working at our ReStore (Sec. 4c). Affordable housing provides families stability to obtain and stay in jobs and for children to stay in the same schools without having to move from shelter to shelter. Prospective homeowners attend financial stability workshops and partner with our Family Services Committee so they are well prepared for homeownership. This affordable housing program also takes advantage of local contractors and suppliers, volunteers from the community and students at the local community college's construction trades program who get on-the-job training. Some 12% of the 26,000 Montezuma County residents live in poverty, with residents in the County Seat of Cortez at 16% living in poverty.About one-in-ten county residents are homeless veterans. The county also has a substantially older population--23.6%--compared with the state average of 15.7%. More than 50% of county residents have incomes below the Area Median Income. We build full-size homes (construction costs roughly $200,00) and small starter homes (approximately $70,000).