Habitat for Humanity of Rock and Jefferson Counties, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity of Rock and Jefferson Counties, Inc. (HFHRJC) is a locally operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. We are a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization that works in partnership with people in need from all walks of life to build,  renovate, and repair homes in Rock and Jefferson Counties Wisconsin so they are safe, decent, and affordable. 
 

 Many in the community come together to help us build homes; and in fact, we could not get the job done without the community’s support. Volunteers provide most of the labor, while area businesses and individual and corporate donors provide much-needed financial support and material donations. During a typical six to nine-month building project, nearly 250 volunteers from all over the area show up with hammers in hand, regardless of the weather, to ensure the job is done.  Friendships are forged while life-changing shelter is built...we even boast that an engagement resulted from one of our building projects! (Results will vary!) 

Dozens of professional contractors offer their expertise and labor to ensure that each one of our homes meet and/or exceed State and Federal construction requirements. Each home must pass inspections throughout the building process, as any" for profit" home must. We are also very proud to report that since 2007, each of our Habitat homes in Jefferson County has received Energy Star Certification from Focus on Energy of Wisconsin.

Prospective homeowners, otherwise known as “Partner Families” invest hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" on projects related to their homes, at the office or ReStore, and sometimes at another Partner Family's home.  Making sure that the family is involved with the building project is a main tenant of the Habitat for Humanity philosophy to offer "a hand up, not a hand out".  A common misconception is that we give our homes away.  However, when finished, HFHRJC sells the home to the Partner Family, without profit, using a mortgage between 20 to 30 years. The time frame of the mortgage varies so that monthly payments do not exceed 30% of the family's income at the time of closing.  The mortgage payments we receive are restricted to the use of building more homes.  So, in essence, each donation is recycled and used again.  And, speaking of recycling...