The following are frequently asked questions that may help you in your decision to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity home.
 
Q. What is a Full-House Sponsor?
A. A full-house sponsor is typically an individual, organization, church, corporation, or foundation that commits to building a Habitat house by donating $55,000 and supplying crews of 12-16 people on nine Saturdays or a two-week period, which usually includes three Saturdays depending on an agreed-upon build schedule. Other sponsorships include a half-house sponsor ($27,500) and a partial-house sponsor ($12,500 – $27,499). Ordinarily, funds are due to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville (HFHE) one month before the start of construction. When a sponsor is unable to provide volunteers, HFHE will recruit volunteers from the community.

Q. Why should we sponsor a Habitat house?
A. The need for decent and affordable housing in our community is great. With the oldest housing stock of any urban area in the state, Evansville has more than 13,000 housing units classified as substandard. A significant number of low-income families are burdened with housing costs exceeding 30 percent of their annual income. The need for available, affordable housing in low income areas greatly exceeds inventory. In Vanderburgh County, 21,000 people live in poverty—more than one-third are children.  

HFHE recently concluded one of the largest projects in its history—the development of New Haven, a 55+-house subdivision on Evansville’s southeast side where 40 families who were affected by the devastating tornado of November 2005 are currently housed.  In 2010 HFHE will be building a 23-house, mixed income development in partnership with a private builder on Shadewood Avenue.  This project will be undertaken as part of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville’s partnership with 17 other community organizations, including the Glenwood Neighborhood Association, in a holistic, collaborative, multi-year program of neighborhood revitalization called the Glenwood Community Development Initiative.

Q. How are Habitat homeowners involved in the building of their house?
A. Future homeowners must contribute at least 300 hours of “sweat equity” labor by first helping to build someone else’s home and then helping to build their own. An $800 down-payment is also required. After construction is completed, houses are sold to partnering homeowners with zero-interest mortgages. Monthly payments of approximately $275, including taxes and insurance, are repaid over 25 years. Every time a Habitat homeowner makes a mortgage payment, it goes to the “Fund for Humanity,” which, in turn, helps build more houses for others.

Q. How much does it cost to sponsor a house?
A. Habitat for Humanity of Evansville has developed three levels of sponsorship to support house construction – Full-House Sponsors, Half-House Sponsors, and Partial-House Sponsors.  Contribution levels are as follows:  Full-House Sponsors ($55,000); Half-House Sponsors ($27,500) and Partial-House Sponsors ($12,500 – $27,499). These monies are used to buy land, to do pre-construction site preparation, and to purchase building materials.  

The total cost to put a family into a house is roughly $80,000. Additional funding for the house is secured by HFHE through grants and other contributions.  

Q. Can an organization or individual co-sponsor a house if they do not have enough labor or funds to fully sponsor a home?
A. Yes, working together with another sponsor is a great way to widen the pool of workers and resources. Plus, it provides you an opportunity to build partnerships within the community.  

Q. How will our organization be recognized for its house sponsorship?
A. Through sponsorship of a Habitat house, an organization has the opportunity to engage in a cause-marketing relationship with Habitat for Humanity, one of the most valuable and powerful non-profit brands in the world (In 2004 Habitat for Humanity was named one of America’s Greatest Brands, with a brand value [equivalent to major corporations like FedEx and Starbucks] of over $1.83 billion.)  All of the opportunities for media coverage which only Habitat can provide—announcements of sponsorship, groundbreakings, wall raisings, roof raisings, and dedications—can be used to demonstrate that your organization is an active and engaged community partner. Recognition through Habitat newsletters, e-newsletters, links on web site, annual reports, board and committee communications, and on-site signage are only a few of the opportunities for recognition which can be utilized.

Q. What is the process in sponsoring a Habitat House?  
A. The Habitat sponsorship process begins when you make the decision to sponsor a house. After making that decision, the sponsor completes a Registration Form and a Partnership Agreement. Habitat for Humanity of Evansville recommends that sponsors organize a Project Team to guide your project through to completion. Chaired by a Project Coordinator, the team usually consists of a Volunteer Coordinator, Lunch Crew Leader, Fundraising Coordinator, Crew Leaders, and Publicity Coordinator. There are many different ways to organize your house sponsorship. You may take a different approach and/or combine some responsibilities. If the funds for your sponsorship are not already provided, you will also need to determine how you will raise the funds.  Before and during the building of the house, the sponsor will also need to recruit and organize volunteers and plan for snacks and lunches.  Once the house nears completion, a dedication service is held at the house. The dedication is a celebratory service that provides a chance for recognition of your group and a sense of completion for everyone involved in the project.  

Q. How long will it take?
A. A house is usually completed (weather permitting) in 9–10 weeks. Volunteer crews usually work all of those weeks. Some work is required to be done by licensed technicians.  Habitat’s permanent crew of weekday volunteers will also be working on the house in order to make sure that your house stays on schedule and is ready for the next Saturday’s volunteers. Any kind of construction schedule is possible—some organizations prefer a two-week, three-Saturday accelerated schedule.  Others might prefer completing the home during a period of six or 12 Saturdays.

Q. What are the sponsor’s responsibilities?
A. When a sponsor decides to make the commitment of “building” a house, they do so with the understanding that they are not alone. Habitat will walk them through the process and experienced construction leaders will direct volunteers. Typically, a sponsor is responsible for providing financial support based on the level of sponsorship, volunteer labor if possible, and lunches for the volunteers at the construction site.  

Q. When do the sponsor’s crews volunteer?
A. Most sponsors work their crews on Saturdays, though this may be adjusted as needed. Habitat’s regular volunteers usually work 2–3 days each week, but they, too, can adjust or your crew may join with them on those days. Special arrangements are always possible and may be arranged through Habitat’s Volunteer Coordinator.

Q. What does a Crew Member need to bring to the construction site?
A. Volunteers will need to bring a pair of comfortable gloves that allow for ample dexterity. If the volunteer has a hammer and any other small tools that they are comfortable using, these will be needed. (Please have names on all tools so they do not get mixed in with Habitat tools.) Habitat provides all power tools, and nail guns are not used.

Volunteers wear clothing that is comfortable for the weather that day and that can get muddy, dirty or paint-stained. Some may prefer long pants if planning to be on a roof or a ladder. Hats with visors, layered clothing, and treaded shoes (no sandals) are helpful. Water is available at the job site.

Q. What else is needed from a Crew Member?
A. All volunteers work through your organization’s Volunteer Coordinator to sign up online at www.evansvillehabitat.org. As volunteers register, they will view Habitat’s waiver of liability and safety policy. By registering online, volunteers indicate that they have read Habitat’s policies and will abide by them. Habitat’s Volunteer Coordinator will train your team's Volunteer Coordinator (and all Volunteers if necessary) in the use of online procedures.

Is there an age limit for Crew Members?
A. All crew members need to be adults in good health. It is expected that a person will take care of themselves and not enter into a project that is beyond their physical ability.  

Due to the dangerous nature of construction, no one under 16 is allowed on a worksite.