Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties

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 the labor of volunteers and prospective homeowners, employing efficient building methods, keeping house sizes modest, using donated construction materials and appliances, and issuing noprofit 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-reliance 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 long-term career growth. During fiscal year 2022, Habitat for Humanity Serving Winona County served more than 10 people through its homeownership program.

We partner with families, communities and local organizations to help older adults improve their homes and their quality of life so that they can flourish where they live. To guide our work, Habitat developed housing plus, a comprehensive aging in place strategy. This person-centered approach uses two different assessments to tailor the process to each homeowner's needs. These assessments, which consider everything from the resident's lifestyle to their type of home, allow us to address older adults' needs holistically, improving the likelihood that they can age in place. During fy2022, Habitat for Humanity Serving Winona County has improved approximately 18 homes to help older adults maneuver more efficiently.

Open to the public, the Habitat restore is a home improvement reuse store that sells gently used and new building materials and furniture at a fraction of retail prices. Items sold in the store are donated by area business and individuals who support the affordable housing cause. The low price of goods sold helps people who struggle to afford home improvement materials as well as those who love a good deal. The restore offers free donation pick-ups, donations are tax deductible, and reusable goods are diverted from the landfill. Since the restore opened its doors in 2003, 3,693,973 pounds of reusable goods have been diverted from the landfill. And most importantly, proceeds from restore sales help Habitat for Humanity build and repair homes in Winona and fillmore counties. With only two and a half staff, the restore is staffed primarily by a volunteer workforce.

As part of the homeownership process, we believe financial education builds a more solid foundation for long-term personal success and helps alleviate any concerns or barriers on the path to homeownership. During these financial 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; and Habitat homeowner mortgages. A more in-depth understanding of these important concepts is a tool that can be used to build a better future. Habitat for Humanity Serving Winona County has conducted 10 financial and homebuyer workshops during fy2022.

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 Habitat for Humanity Serving Winona County staff members to complete the repairs. Since the inception of the home preservation program, Habitat for Humanity Serving Winona County has partnered with local homeowners, with 17 homeowners served during fy2022.