Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County (Habitat) is a local affiliate of the global nonprofit housing organization that focuses on creating first time homeownership. Since 1986, Habitat has built or repaired 341 homes. Homes that are occupied or purchased by low-income families. Repairs are focused on seniors, veterans, and disenfranchised families.
Its flagship program is Home Ownership, through which low-income families are helped through every step along the road to owning their own home. Families must meet a set of eligibility criteria and then participate in an intensive program of homeownership education and a required amount of “sweat equity” or volunteer labor towards the construction or renovation of their (or another) home. Habitat works closely with families to prepare them for the responsibilities of homeownership, including learning about personal finances, mortgages, maintenance and upkeep of homes, and more.
Habitat’s ReStore is a home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. In addition, it creates living wage jobs, saves hundreds of thousands of items from ending up in landfills annually, and provides 40% of Habitat’s revenue, which is needed to bridge the gap between the affordable sales prices of the homes and the fair market value.
Habitat’s home preservation programs work with existing low-income homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes due to an inability to pay for needed safety or accessibility repairs. Based on the needs of the applicant, the program completes a small ‘Brush with Kindness Program’ which may include exterior work to preserve the home such as painting, landscaping, and minor outdoor repairs, or more extensive home repairs that alleviate critical health and safety issues or code violations. The Ramp Up program installs wheelchair ramps for people with mobility issues who cannot afford to do so themselves. The Aging in Place Program helps people aged 65 and up with home repairs and modifications including widening hallways, installing grab bars, building accessibility ramps, and updating flooring. Over 30 homes were repaired through these programs last year. Habitat’s newest home preservation program, Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement program, works with mobile homeowners to provide both repairs and, for some, complete replacement of aged and failing mobile homes. There are over 4,500 mobile homes in Dutchess County, making up a significant pool of affordable housing. Of those, approximately 20% fail basic safety codes.
In 2023, the Dyson Foundation supported Habitat’s general operations and renewed designated funding towards repair and maintenance assistance to homeowners, including mobile homeowners.