Jean Throckmorton
President, Board of Directors
President's Greeting
Welcome to Habitat for Humanity of the Indian Wells Valley (HFHIWV). We are a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor, sweat equity , into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving fund for Habitat for Humanity IWV that is used to build more houses.
We have a vision for the Indian Wells Valley of NO SUBSTANDARD HOUSING. This is an ambitious vision, and we cannot do it alone. We want to partner with individuals, churches, businesses and organizations to accomplish it. HFHIWV sees its part in this process as building standard homes that are decent and affordable; supporting and educating present, past and future partner families as they move into home ownership; developing working relationships with those in the community who are willing to help us in our work; and engaging those not a part of HFHIWV who hold the same vision for our valley.
Since our chartering as a Habitat affiliate in 2000, we have completed 12 homes and are starting on the 13th home. Our current goal is to complete 10 additional homes by 2010. If this important work is to happen, we need volunteers to help in all parts of our organization. You can email the HFHIWV office or call and leave your name and contact information. We will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss ways you can help. We welcome everyone who shares our passion for helping people realize their dream of owning a home. All people, whether or not of any religious affiliation, are encouraged to join us as volunteers and as possible applicants for a Habitat for Humanity home.
If you are a potential applicant for a home, work with us for a while to understand what the work is like and the kind of commitment that is required of Partner Families. It is not easy. Partner Families must contribute what we call "Sweat Equity" by working on their homes and the homes of others. The homes are not given to the Partner families but sold to them at an affordable price at no profit and with a no-interest loan. We don't build houses for Partner Families but with Partner Families. In the process we build pride in home ownership and in our accomplishments together.
Check out the other areas of our website to learn about what we have done so far and where we are working now. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you at a job site, at a fundraiser, at a wall-raising or a home dedication.
Jean Throckmorton
President, Board of Directors
2007