Local home builders are partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County to raise walls on four homes in Fuquay-Varina as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz 2012. During this year’s event, the nationwide project seeks to build and renovate more than 200 homes, thanks to the skilled labor provided by local professional home builders and construction firms.
Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz is a partnership between Habitat affiliates and the building community to build and renovate homes across the United States. Builders and Habitat affiliates work closely to organize all aspects of building, including securing subcontractors and suppliers, fundraising and seeking donations of materials. Builders participating in the program this year will work with more than 100 Habitat affiliates. Locally, Savvy Homes, Triangle Builders Guild, Williams Realty and Building Company, A.R. Nix Construction, and Stock Building Supply gathered subcontractors and suppliers to obtain materials and professional labor for the build.
Three of the four homes were dedicated on Friday, June 8 at noon in the Consolidated Pines neighborhood in Fuquay-Varina. The new home buyers and the builders were present for the conclusion of this national event, along with Habitat for Humanity spokesperson and former host of This Old House, Steve Thomas. History of the Home Builders Blitz In 2002, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County and local custom home builder Tom Gipson partnered to recruit 12 professional home builders to build one house each in a five-day period, donating as much of the materials as possible.
The results were astounding: 12 homes completed in five days at a total cost to the affiliate (not including land) of $84,000. In addition to donating labor and materials, the builders raised $100,000 in cash donations. This local idea became a successful national initiative in June 2006. The first national Home Builders Blitz involved more than 1,000 professional home builders working on 459 homes at 130 Habitat affiliates across the country, providing housing for nearly 2,000 people.
The project was so successful that affiliates and builders wanted to replicate it in 2008. For Home Builders Blitz 2008, 263 homes were built in 34 states, with 110 Habitat affiliates participating. To date, 862 homes have been constructed under the Home Builders Blitz model, including the two national projects, off-year local builds, and the pilot projects that preceded the first national build.
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County develops partnerships with future home buyers, sponsors, and volunteers to build safe, affordable homes for families with modest incomes. The homeownership program is designed to break the cycle of poverty. Applicant families qualify for, build and purchase their homes. Adults attend homeownership classes and contribute a minimum of 250 hours of “sweat equity” building their own homes or those of others. During the process the families save money for a $1,500* down payment, and once they move into their homes, their mortgage payments are reinvested to help Habitat build more homes. Habitat homeowners pay approximately $600* per month on a 20-year mortgage.
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