Home Builder Blitz
Why should your business help with the Home Builder Blitz?Habitat and homeowners aren’t the only ones who benefit from Home Builders Blitz. Homebuilders deepen ties to their community, allowing them to collaborate with other builders in their area, to connect with subcontractors and to incorporate other corporate sponsors in the homebuilding industry who share their company’s values.
Program OverviewRepairs and RehabsIn 2012, Home Builders Blitz incorporated rehabs and repairs for the first time. For this year, we are again encouraging affiliates and builders to partner in doing rehabs and repairs. The idea is simple: Using the model that has successfully provided new homes through
the partnership between Habitat for Humanity and homebuilders, we will invite contractors who specialize in rehabilitation or major repairs to join us. The process for rehabs and repairs is the same as new homes in that the affiliate identifies a contractor to commit to lead the project and raise funds while the affiliate secures the site and approves the family.
Project ResponsibilitiesHome Builders Blitz is an exciting opportunity for Habitat for Humanity and professional builders to partner to build and renovate homes across the nation. Affiliates and builders will work closely together to coordinate this project. The responsibilities of each group are defined below.
Program HistoryIn 2002, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County in North Carolina and local custom home builder Tom Gipson partnered to recruit 12 professional homebuilders 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 net cost of $0.
This local idea became a successful national initiative in June 2006. The first national Home Builders Blitz involved more than 1,000 professional homebuilders working on 459 homes at 130 Habitat affiliates across the country, providing housing for nearly 2,000 people. This was the largest homebuilding effort in Habitat for Humanity’s history. The project was so successful that Habitat and builders wanted to replicate it in 2008. Now an annual event, this proven program allows us to exponentially serve hundreds of additional families each year. Home Builders Blitz is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the building industry to build and renovate homes across the nation. The model works for affiliates of any size — whether the affiliate elects to build one home or 15. Home Builders Blitz is a capacity-building opportunity, allowing affiliates to serve more families without overextending their current structure. HFHI found that nearly 90 percent of participating affiliates reported they were able to increase production through Home Builders Blitz without significantly increasing their overhead. The ultimate goal is to create ongoing partnerships with the building industry that will continue to benefit both builders and affiliates. In 2006, more than 50 percent of the builders that participated in Home Builders Blitz were engaged with their local Habitat for the first time. Ninety- four percent of the builders said their experience was either extremely positive or very positive. Builders continue to return to the event because it is a satisfying way to give back to their communities while doing what they do best. Each year, Home Builders Blitz also offers opportunities for partnerships with builders whose specialties may be outside of new residential construction. The blitz will include rehabs and substantial repairs that follow the same model as new homes. As affiliates and the building community prepare for this year’s Home Builders Blitz, new partnerships will be created, more homes will be built and, most importantly, more families will be served. |