Roland Buchs
President, Board of Directors
Greetings from the President,
Welcome to Habitat for Humanity of the Indian Wells Valley (HFHIWV). I am glad that you are here. We are honored to have you visit our website. I hope that you will stay a while and get to know a little about us.
WHO WE ARE: We are in the business of eliminating substandard housing in the Indian Wells Valley in California’s High Desert. We are a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), a non-profit, ecumenical Christian Housing organization.
WHAT WE DO: We offer a hand-up, rather than a handout to families in need of decent affordable housing. We help qualifying families who partner with us build their home according to Habitat standards with mostly volunteer labor, and services, money and materials donated primarily by individuals, companies, and churches. Selected Partner Families invest hundreds of hours of labor, called sweat equity, into building their home and the homes of others. Once completed, homes are sold without interest to the Partner Families. HFHIWV holds the mortgage and the proceeds from mortgage payments are used to help build more homes. WHERE WE’VE BEEN: Since our affiliate was chartered as a Habitat Affiliate in 2000, and through July, 2010 we have built 15 homes, provided housing for 17 families and are planning to start two more homes for two more families shortly. We had also framed and shipped a house to the Gulf Coast for victims of Hurricane Rita under HFHI’s Operation Home Delivery.
OUR VISION: No Substandard Housing in the Indian Wells Valley. This is an ambitious goal and we cannot do it alone. But with God’s guidance and in partnership with like-minded individuals, churches, businesses and organizations it can be done.
OUR GOAL: To partner with like minded people and organizations so that we can ramp up the rate at which substandard housing is eliminated. To help enrich the lives of the families we build with along the way. We believe that helping build families is truly one of our most important products.
If you are interested in joining us please contact us. We are in need of volunteers for all aspects of the business. Please see our “Volunteer” page. As always, funding is one of the factors that constrains the rate at which we can build. Your generous donation is timely. Thank you for checking out our “Become a Donor” page.
If you are a potential applicant for a home, see our “Applying for a Home” page. Applicants are chosen based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. We do not build houses for partner families but will build with you and help prepare you for home ownership. If would like more information, contact us.
I am looking forward to meeting you in person at a Habitat job site, fundraiser, wall raising, home dedication or other function.
Warm Regards,
Roland Buchs
President, Board of Directors 2010