HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. Founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity by 2016 operated around the globe and helped build, renovate and repair more than 600,000 decent, affordable houses sheltering more than 3 million people worldwide. (1)

Dubuque/Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God's love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Dubuque/Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor - "sweat equity" - into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses. (2)

In 1994 the Dubuque/Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity had completed its second home. (3) Dubuque/Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity announced a construction project at 2300 Washington St. involving the rehabilitation of a house that has been relocated to the site to make way for the BEE BRANCH project. Major sponsors on this project were the city of Dubuque and the Dubuque board of Realtors which graciously donated the proceeds of their centennial gala this project. (4)

In 2021 the Dubuque and Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity announced a partnership with the Dubuque County Energy District and Blue Sky Solar that allowed the installation of a solar array on a home currently under construction in Dubuque. The 5.6kW array will help the homeowner save approximately $970 year. (5)

Officials of the nonprofit announced on July 28, 2021 plans to open a home improvement resale store. Sales would help benefit families in need of affordable, quality housing. Items carried at the store would include building materials, appliances, and furniture all at reduced prices. It was estimated that receipts from the store would enable to construction of at least one house annually. Plans had started in 2019 only to be delayed by the PANDEMIC. Early in 2021 the local organization received approval for their project from the international Habitat for Humanity organization. Among the early donations were many items received from the SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (BVM) from several buildings before they were deconstructed. (6)

In December, 2021 the announcement was made that the Dubuque and Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity would open a home improvement store. ReStore at 4949 Chavenelle Road sold donated building materials, appliances and furniture as a way of raising funds for home-building efforts. (7)

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Source:

1. Dubuque/Jackson Counties Habitat for Humanity website. Online: http://www.habitatdubuque.org/news.html

2. Ibid.

3. Jerde, Lyn. "Habitat for Humanity Helps Dubuque Family Buy Home," Telegraph Herald, April 25, 1994, p. 2

4. Dubuque/Jackson...

5. Dubuque/Jackson...June 29, 2021

6. Kelsey, Elizabeth, "Local Habitat for Humanity Plans Resale Store," Telegraph Herald, July 28, 2021, p. 17A

7. "Tri-State Week in Review," Telegraph Herald, January 2, 2002, p. 13A