Background and Need Served:

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley is a non-profit organization, working in partnership with low-income families in Washtenaw County, to build affordable homes.  Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families.  The houses are then sold to partner families at no profit with affordable, no-interest loans.  The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments are used to help build still more Habitat houses.

Habitat is not a give-away program.  In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – sweat equity- into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

More information is available at the Good News Habitat House website: www.goodnewshouse.org

Outreach Project Purpose:

FUMC has helped build 11 Habitat houses since 1997.  Our church has been involved in local building efforts, cooperating with other churches in a joint venture to build the Good News Habitat House each year in the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area.  FUMC’s goal is to raise $15,000/yr. and recruit 200 volunteers to work on the annual Good News Habitat house.

Current Team Members:

• Bob Whitacre, leader
• Jim Danforth
• Jo Ayres
• Jim Goodrich
• Rick Miller
• Sheryl Norman
• Bob Simmons
• Gwynn Sterken
• Matt Velkey
• Donna Wegryn
• Tim Ziegler

Estimated Project Costs

• Financial support for construction materials: $15,000/yr.
• Volunteers to help construct the house: 200

Proposed Source of Resources/Funds

(Activity, Goal, Projected Timing)

Financial Appeal,  $15,000, March until goal reached

Volunteer Sign-up, 200 volunteers, March - May sign-up for June-Aug workdays

Volunteer Needs

Worksite construction assistance (no building skills required) in the following areas: General construction, Decking, Electrical, Windows, Framing, Insulation, Roofing, Siding, Painting, Trim work, Finishing, Doors, Landscaping, Clean-up

Other volunteer opportunities:

• Prepare and contribute a lunch or snack for construction workers
• Pick up or deliver food to the site
• Pray for the workers, homeowner family, and Habitat for Humanity

Cost of Construction Materials

$ 3,000, Insulation
$ 2,500, Roof
$ 1,000, Siding, Soffet & Facia
$    750, Floor
$    500, Kitchen countertop
$    400, Storage shed
$    250, Bath vanity countertop
$    200, Wall
$    150, Kitchen cabinet
$    120, Window
$    100, Door
$      90, Kitchen sink
$      75, Tree
$      50, 50# box of nails
$      25, Lighting fixture
$        1, Mailbox

Date Prepared: Oct 29, 2007 
By: Bob Whitacre