Our
Progress and the Future – Habitat for Humanity of
Winchester-Frederick Co., Inc.
Braddock Street United
Methodist Church spearheaded a project to develop a local
affiliate in 1995. Affiliation status was granted by
Habitat for Humanity International in February 1997.
Our first home was built
on Charles Street in Winchester in 1998, a second home
was completed on N. Pleasant Valley Road and our third
home was built in Shawneeland in the fall of 1999. We
completed seven homes at Gibson Place in 1999 and 2000.
Five more were completed in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 -2004
we completed six homes on Watson Avenue, one of which was
the Dowell J. Howard “build” completed by their
construction students and one built by Handley High
School construction students. Dowell J. Howard students
have built five homes for us, Handley H.S., three and
Shenandoah University students, one home. By the end of
2007 we will have completed thirty homes including our
first home in Clarke County in the village of Millwood
and six additional homes by June, 2008
We also own a historic
stone warehouse on Baker Street, which houses our
business offices and a warehouse for our tools and
building supplies.
Our ReStore, a retail
store selling donated new and used building supplies is
located at 563 North Cameron Street in Winchester and has
just celebrated its first anniversary. The profits from
this store help fund our building programs
Please remember that none
of this can take place without dedicated volunteers like
you. Your kindness, concern, understanding help make
dreams come true for those needing just a little helping
hand. While we do not preach any particular religious
doctrine at Habitat we do all live by what Habitat
founder Millard Fuller has called the Theology of the
Hammer.
Theology of the Hammer is
a fundamental principle of Habitat for Humanity. It
teaches us to put aside our differences and to work in
partnership with one another. We acknowledge that
differences of opinion exist on many subjects, but we can
find common ground in using a hammer as an instrument to
manifest God's love. Following the teachings of Jesus,
who was a carpenter by trade, we can agree on the
imperative of the gospel to serve others in the name of
the Lord.
How It All Works
Through volunteer labor,
management expertise and tax-deductible donations of
money and material, Habitat builds homes with the help of
the homeowners.
Houses are sold at no
profit to partner families, and no-interest mortgages are
issued over a fixed period. The mortgage payments are
deposited into a revolving "Fund for Humanity"
which supports the construction of more houses.
Habitat is not a giveaway
program. It's a "Hand Up" not a "Hand
Out". Each homeowner family is required to invest a
minimum of 250 "sweat equity" hours into the
construction of their home. This reduces the cost of the
house, increases the pride of ownership among family
members and fosters the development of positive
relationships with other people.
How Families Are
Selected
Families apply to the
local Family Selection Committee. The committee chooses
prospective homeowners based on their level of need,
their willingness to become partners in the program and
their ability to repay the loan. Neither race, religion,
marital status, age nor sex is a factor in choosing the
persons to receive Habitat houses. The Board of Directors
makes final determination of Habitat families.
To apply for a Habitat
house in Winchester, Frederick County or Clarke County,
applicants must:
• Earn 50% or below
the local area median income
Example: The annual
household income for a family of 4 may not exceed
$30,450.
• Be able to repay a
mortgage of approximately $350-$400 per month.
• Be residents in the
Winchester or Frederick County for at least one year
prior to applying (or Clarke Co. in the case of the
Millwood “build”)
• Be willing to
invest a minimum of 250 “sweat equity” hours
towards the construction of their house.
• Currently live in
sub-standard housing (over-crowding, pest/vermin-infested
or rent exceeding 30% of household income)
