Who is Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County?
Officers
President: Fran Smyth, Retired
Vice President: Dean Johnson, Market Realty
Secretary: Lori Fura-White, Dan D Party Corner
Treasurer: Patti Robinson, Sierra Trading Post
Board Members
Kathy Semler, American National Bank
Bill Semler, Community First Data Services
Dennis Smyth, Retired
Traci Collins, Trader's Shoppers Guide
Jacob McCloud, FE Warren AFB
Sara Doukas, Lowe's Distribution Center
Council to the Board of Directors:
Dennis Grant, Esquire
Director of Development:
Josh Nicholas
Construction Supervisor
Curtis Colbert
Advisory Commitee
Jim Woods
AmeriCorp VISTAs
Kyle Aiton
Arlen Scarborough
Elizabeth Williams
Linda (Kat) Manley
Dale Lake
Dana Lehman
What is Habitat for Humanity?
Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County, Inc. is one of 2,322 affiliates worldwide working at a grass-roots level to eliminate poverty housing. Contributed funds buy building materials, land, and cover other construction related costs while donated labor builds new homes for local families in need. Homes built utilizing the Habitat for Humanity model are then sold at no profit and no interest to partner families. Finally, mortgage payments from existing homes are used to build additional homes
Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County, Inc. is affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International. For more information on Habitat for Humanity International, visit their official website.
How is Habitat for Humanity funded?
Funding comes from individuals, churches, corporations, foundations, and other community organizations moved by concern and compassion to help those in need. No-interest, no profit mortgage payments are also recycled back into the program to build additional houses.
Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Yes,Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County, Inc. is incorporated as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status from the I.R.S.
What is the ReStore?
The Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County ReStore is an environmentally friendly thrift store which accepts new and secondhand home improvement and construction goods. The ReStore benefits the community, allowing for the recycling of home improvement items and preventing usable material from ending up in landfills. It makes home improvements more affordable by providing community members with a source of low cost materials. Funds generated from the ReStore help to build homes in the community Learn more, click here.
How are homeowners selected?
The Family Selection Committee chooses homeowners based on need, ability to pay the mortgage, and willingness to provide 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the Habitat program. The number of sweat equity hours required from homeownership can be achieved by a group of volunteers who are working on behalf of the homeowner. Habitat's homes are available to all who meet our family selection criteria, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
Does Habitat for Humanity give houses to people?
Habitat does not give houses to anyone. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and material, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of partner families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses. Habitat homeowners have incomes that are typically 30-50 percent of the median income in the area.
In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor—sweat equity—into building their Habitat house and the houses of others and volunteering at other area nonprofits.
What are Habitat houses like?
Simple. Habitat houses are modestly sized -- large enough for the homeowner family's needs, but small enough to keep construction and maintenance costs to a minimum. The typical Habitat house in Cheyenne is about 1,100 square feet, has one bathroom, a covered primary entrance, and doors and hallways wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
Decent. Habitat uses quality, locally available building materials. Trained staff supervise Habitat house construction and educate volunteers and partner families.
Affordable. The labor of volunteers and partner families, efficient building methods, modest house sizes and a no-profit, no-interest loan make it affordable for low-income people around the world to purchase a Habitat for Humanity house.
Our Focus is Local -- Our Outreach is Global
A 10% tithe is donated to help build Habitat homes in Guatemala unless the donor requests their gift remain in the local community.
What has Habitat accomplished in Cheyenne?
The first Cheyenne area Habitat house was completed in 1991. By the end of 2011, we will have completed 32 homes in Cheyenne and 10 homes in Guatemala. Typical homes have a single floor (with an unfinished basement), consists of 3 bedrooms, and are approximately 1,100 square feet. The cost of the home is approximately $80,000. 20 year mortgages are no-profit, no-interest with monthly payments that are approximately $500 (No two houses are identical, so mortgages do vary).
1805 Ames Ave
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 637-8067
Fax:(307) 635-9005
Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County complies with the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or sources of income.
