DurhamCares

Habitat for Humanity Commentary

Regarding the cost per house the slab (foundation) for our homes is in a gray area between land development cost and actual construction. In general we pay just over $5,000 for a slab IF the lot is flat and level. However, if a lot is difficult, we might pay $20,000 or more to get a foundation in place. As you can see, this skews our average house cost quite a bit. Increasingly we are able to purchase only infill (in-city) lots that have costly drainage and grading needs. Because foundation expense varies wildly from site to site, we propose simply measuring cost from a post-foundation perspective. While the building industry itself is rather unstable, our build costs from house to house are at least consistent after the foundation is set.

Given the economy, a $60k post-foundation goal will still keep up on our toes, but is also achievable if we remain vigilant.

What

Habitat sells homes at zero-percent interest to low-income families. These families by definition have inadequate shelter (unsound, overcrowded or unsafe) and do not qualify for traditional mortgages. The no-interest loan makes home ownership affordable for families earning as little as 25 percent of Durham’s median income. Community partners join Habitat to make construction possible.

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.

Why

We weren’t immediately drawn to Durham Habitat for Humanity, especially not as one of the first organizations that we wanted to highlight. We had wanted to choose much more anonymous organizations to start.  Organizations that Durham’s citizens might not otherwise have heard of and organizations that might best benefit from the awareness that we thought DurhamCares might lend. So it was with a bit of hesitation that we first met with Miguel Rubiera, Habitat’s Executive Director.

Any reservations that we had about Habitat were put aside in that first meeting however, and it became clear that Durham Habitat was a great choice for one of our first highlighted charities. While Durham Habitat is a name that many of us had heard, it is also an organization that espouses much of what we look for in organizations that we support: a strong track record, an emphasis on accountability and transparency and just as importantly, a clear sense of what they want to accomplish next year.

Why We Build

The Research Triangle Area:

• North Carolina’s highest per-capita income
• The state’s most expensive rental market
• Average two-bedroom rental in Durham County is more than $800/mo
• Wage required to afford average rental is nearly $15/hr
• Federal minimum wage is $5.85/hr

Durham

• Lowest home-ownership rate in NC by more than 20 percentage points    

• Supply gap of affordable rental units is more than 3,400    

• Affordable rentals are generally unsound, unsafe or overcrowded    

A Hand Up Through Home Ownership

• Families building equity
• Parents empowered to advance professionally
• Children excel academically
• College attendance is more likely

Community Investment

• Decreased crime rates in targeted neighborhoods
• Increased property values
• People of all backgrounds working side by side
• Community solutions to community problems
• Building futures and communities one home at a time

What We Build

• Affordable Homes
• Home buyers at 25-60 percent median income
• Zero-percent-interest mortgages
• Low monthly payments
• Low energy bills

Green Construction

• Energy Star partner through System Vision program
• Green certification through the Home Builders Association
• Heating and cooling costs guaranteed between $26 and $34/mo
• Hope Crossing is the first affordable green community in NC
• Solar-heated water in some homes
• Earth-friendly carpet and paint (low-VOC)

Special Projects

• Hope Crossing green community
• Historic preservation in the Golden Belt community downtown
• Multi-family housing in Southwest Central Durham
• New home repair program for elderly and disabled homeowners

How We Build

Donations

• Home sponsors, $5,000-$50,000 commitment
• Unrestricted contributions
• Gifts in kind (donated materials and labor)
• Habitat ReStore income used for home construction

Volunteers

• Home sponsor volunteers
• General construction volunteers (individuals and groups)
• AmeriCorps members
• Committees
• Office support

Community Partners

• City of Durham
• Duke University
• Durham Affordable Housing CoalitionDurham Housing Authority
• Genesis Home
• Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties
• Housing for New Hope
• Self-Help
• Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life Project
• Triangle Impact
• TROSA

Miguel Rubiera
Director (‘05)
Miguel Rubiera brings to Habitat of Durham international business experience as well a passion for helping people. Prior to joining the Habitat team, Miguel and his wife, Margaret, served as leadership volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro. As Habitat volunteers, they helped organize and energize trips to Habitat in Honduras, among other projects. Miguel believes strongly in the power of communities to change and grow. He believes equally strongly in the need for nonprofits to perform as businesses, proving results for their donors and volunteers. According to Miguel the most gratifying aspect of his leadership at Habitat is “serving God’s children who are less fortunate.”

Mary Brown
Director of Family Services (‘98)
A Habitat institution since 1998, Mary serves Habitat as Director of Family Services. Mary shepherds families through the application and approval process and into their time as home buyers. “Miss Mary,” as she is known by Habitat families has closed on 141 homes since her work with Habitat began. Her professional background in consumer financing prepared her well for her role with Habitat, but she finds her work with new home buyers much more satisfying. “To see the expression on their faces when they’re given their keys is priceless.”

Mitzi Viola
Director of Development (‘04)
A Durham native, Mitzi began volunteering with Habitat as a religion major in college. After summer trips to Guatemala and Peru with Habitat, she served two years as a volunteer at Habitat’s international headquarters in Americus, GA. Since 1990 she has worked in various roles in nonprofit development, and in 2004 she came home to both Durham and to Habitat through her professional role with Habitat of Durham. Mitzi calls her position as facilitator of community support for Habitat families “an honor and privilege every day.”

Bill Wismer
Director of Finance and Human Resources (‘05)
Bill Wismer joined Habitat’s “ministry that literally changes lives” in 1998. A retired Navy Supply Corps officer, Bill’s submarine logistics background helps with the coordination of all of Habitat’s financial operating systems - from mortgage lending to land transfer to payroll. Bill’s degrees in accounting and business administration help him run Habitat’s complex financial operations. He is literally the administrative glue for Habitat of Durham.

Habitat_for_Humanity_1Q10_Report.pdf

Habitat_for_Humanity_2Q10_Report.pdf

Habitat for Humanity_2009 Final Report.pdf