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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ALACHUA COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Santa Fe College students build installations for homes in a large hangar located just outside the classroom. Here a Habitat for Humanity volunteer crew constructs a wall at a build site.
Alachua County Habitat for Humanity by the numbers $
65,000
The cost to build a Habitat home in Alachua County today
13,000 Build program. This Habitat for Humanity International program encourages women of all ages and levels of experience to participate in builds. In 2008, the Women Build branch of Alachua Habitat for Humanity completed two homes in the Celebration Oaks subdivision in Gainesville. Since the program’s inception, the Women Build workforce has completed construction of five homes, according to information on the organization’s website. “This organization was built on volunteers,” Winzeler said. “And you don’t need to have construction skills. We look for people to help us on the construction site, but we look for people to help out in the office and in our thrift store.” Habitat for Humanity has operated its thrift store — ReStore — for 20 years. ReStore accepts donations of furniture, appliances, building materials, housewares and clothing for resale. “The thrift store allows needy family to purchase things they need for homes,” Winzeler said. “It’s also a great place for bargain hunters and antique hunters, and the revenue supports our building projects.” The organization also relies on revenue from fundraising events
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including an antique car show, and the signature fall event: Pave the Way. This year’s event takes place Sept. 14, and will feature a silent auction, music and dinner. More details about the event will be posted on the organization’s website www.alachuahabitat.org. s
The number of man-hours it takes to complete each habitat home.
1,000+ The number of Habitat houses built by women crews around the world.
1 - 1.5 Number of pounds of waste diverted from the landfill for every dollar spent at the ReStore thrift store.
The Habitat for Humanity Family Partnership A common question Habitat for Humanity representatives receive involves the partnership between the organization and Habitat homeowners. The organization chooses Families based on their applications, which the Family Selection Committee assesses for the family’s need for housing, ability to pay and willingness to be a partner. Families must contribute 200 hours of “sweat equity” during the construction of other Habitat homes before they get the green light to begin building their own home. They then spend at least 200 hours on construction of their own home. This partnership is the key to building strong relationships, which the organization and families value as much as shelter. “Many of our Family Partners will stay in touch, and come back to help out with other builds,” said Scott Winzeler, Alachua County Habitat for Humanity executive director. “They are invested, and they want to give back.”