Habitat's Mission
Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties is a non-profit, ecumenical, grassroots Christian ministry.  Its primary goal is to eliminate sub-standard housing and homelessness by partnering with community members to construct simple, decent and affordable homes.  

To help achieve that goal, Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties also operates the Habitat ReStore which provides all community members the opportunity to improve their current living conditions affordably by purchasing discounted building materials and home furnishings.

History
Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all faiths and walks of life to work together in partnership, building houses with families in need.

Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties was founded in 1994 and finished its 1st Habitat home in that year as well. By 2009,  as Habitat Winona-Fillmore Counties celebrated its 15th anniversary, 40 homes had been completed. In response to devestating floods in southeastern Minnesota, Habitat built its first home in Fillmore county in 2009.  To see more about our History please visit the Videos page and watch "The History of Habitat for Humanity Winona County"

How We Do it
Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.

Family Selection
To partner with habitat, potential homeowners must first fill out an application. The affiliate's family selection committee then considers applicants' level of need, their willingness to become partners in the Habitat program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. Habitat Winona follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families.

If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, please check our Apply for a Home page where you will find information on the availability, size, costs, and sweat equity requirements for Habitat houses in our area, as well as information on the application process.

Habitat and its Affiliates
Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use the Habitat for Humanity International affiliate search to find Habitat affiliates in other areas.

Habitat is a grass-roots movement. Concerned citizens from all walks of life come together as volunteers to form a Habitat affiliate in their community. Fundraising, house construction, family selection and other key decisions are carried out by the local affiliates. HFHI headquarters, located in Americus, Ga., provides information, training, support and other services to Habitat affiliates worldwide.

Donations
Donations are used as designated by the donor. Gifts received by us that are designated to a specific building project are forwarded to that project. Any undesignated gifts are used where most needed. Our most recent audited financial statement is available upon request.