FAUQUIER HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC

HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM: FAMILIES NEEDING A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE BUILD SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US. HABITAT HOUSES ARE MODESTLY SIZED. LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE HOMEOWNER'S FAMILY'S NEEDS BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO KEEP CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AFFORDABLE. BY USING THE LABOR OF SUBCONTRACTORS, SKILLED VOLUNTEERS, AND PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS, EMPLOYING ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING METHODS, KEEPING HOUSE SIZES MODEST, USING DONATED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES WHEN AVAILABLE, AND ISSUING NO OR LOW-INTEREST LOANS, HABIT MAKES ITS HOUSES AFFORDABLE FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES TO PURCHASE. THE PROGRAM BUILDS ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES FOR FAMILIES WHOSE INCOME FALLS BETWEEN 30% AND 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AS PRESCRIBED BY HUD. HOMES ARE SOLD AT A ZEROTO LOW-INTEREST RATE USING DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE WHERE AVAILABLE. MOST PROPERTIES (THE LAND) ARE PLACED INTO THE VIRGINIA STATEWIDE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO CREATE PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY IN PERPETUITY. THE IMPACT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCREASES THE PROSPERITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. U.S. HOMEOWNERS HAVE AN AVERAGE NET WEALTH THAT IS 400% HIGHER THAN THAT OF RENTERS WITH SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS AND EARNINGS. HOMEOWNERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, BECOME INVOLVED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, AND JOIN A CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAN RENTERS. WEATHERIZATION REDUCES LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS' TOTAL ENERGY COSTS BY 12.4% WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR. THIS IS SUBSTANTIAL GIVEN THAT LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE HIGHER ENERGY BURDENS, SPENDING THREE TIMES THE SHARE OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME ON ENERGY COSTS AS COMPARED WITH OTHER HOUSEHOLDS. CHILDREN OF LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND MORE LIKELY TO COMPLETE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION THAN CHILDREN OF LOW-INCOME RENTERS. DECREASING HOUSING COSTS RELEASES RESOURCES TO SPEND ON NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND HEALTHCARE AND LIMITS OVERCROWDING TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

HOME REPAIR PROGRAM: OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM IS AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW TO MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS, INCLUDING VETERANS AND SENIORS 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. PROVIDING HELP WITH HOME REPAIRS WORKS TO ALLEVIATE SUBSTANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK THROUGHOUT FAUQUIER AND RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTIES. THE REPAIRS ARE CONSIDERED CRITICAL WHEN THEY IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS FAMILIES TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND AVOID THE UNCERTAINTY, TRAUMA, AND EXPENSE OF MOVING. PROJECTS INCLUDE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REPAIRS TO ALLEVIATE CRITICAL HEALTH, LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUES OR CODE VIOLATIONS.