We raise the money to build houses from the five sources outlined below. A house costs $62,000 (as of 2009) in supplies and services. In order to build 4 houses a year, we need to raise $250,000 annually.
First, our partner families that already occupy homes make their monthly payment to Hardin County Habitat for Humanity. Their principle is deposited directly into our operating budget and is immediately reinvested in new construction. Those house payments make up 30% of our annual budget. So, one house a year is built by the families that already own houses.
Second, we rely on donations, large or small, from the citizens, churches and businesses of Hardin County. We encourage everyone who has a good roof over their head at night to make a donation so that the less well off among us can enjoy the same security. You can donate directly to Hardin County Habitat for Humanity by sending a check to our office at 1016 Pear Orchard Road, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 or by making a designated gift at the link below. If you are wondering how much to donate, consider given $25 annually for each television set in your home. Make it $50 for one of those monster TVs.
Third, we apply for all of the grants that we can. There are several Foundations that focus their giving on housing projects. Grant writing is a special talent, because grants are always competitive and a well written grant application is much more likely to succeed. If you have experience at grant writing, or would like to gain experience at it, we encourage you to volunteer your time and energy to helping with this very important part of this ministry.
Fourth, we try to partner with a sponsor for each home. The sponsor provides 50% of the cost of construction, which was $31,000 in 2009. We also ask the sponsor to provide as much volunteer labor as possible. Sponsorship is a significant commitment on the part of any organization, but the benefits are great. For a business it is an opportunity to give back to the community some of the bounty that has been received. Sponsorship is good advertising and a sponsor is able to use the Habitat for Humanity name in its advertising for 6 months. It is also a team building activity. Getting your employees together, out of the office, building a house, is an excellent way to grow new leadership. Our churches see this as an extension of their outreach ministry. A project of this magnitude can energize a congregation. Organizations that have sponsored houses are listed on this page.
Fifth, we conduct an annual Golf Scramble. This is a day of fun that generates a significant part of our annual budget. Details will be announced in the schedule in the Welcome page. In addition to playing in the golf scramble, we are always looking for people to help organize the golf scramble. |
