Habitat for Humanity was founded on the principle that safe and affordable homeownership empowers people to reach their full potential. Our goal is to help families achieve and maintain sustainable housing. Through volunteer labor and donations of both money and materials, we build affordable homes for families as well as help low-income families make repairs on their current homes.

A home provides stability for families and children, as well as a sense of dignity and pride. Surveys show that children who grow up in a home are healthier, do better in school and will have better job prospects. Stable housing leads to safer, healthier and stronger communities.

Habitat does not give away homes or home repairs. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest their sweat equity into building their Habitat home and the homes of others. Each family must also attend educational courses on home maintenance, landscaping, budgeting and insurance.

The combination of low construction expenses, volunteer labor and a low to no-interest mortgages makes these homes affordable. Including property taxes and insurance, the Habitat homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment is no more than 30 percent of their gross income.

Habitat is funded by the generosity of numerous individuals, groups and organizations. Contributions from individuals, faith groups, businesses, foundations, United Way of Dane County, proceeds from the Habitat ReStores and monthly mortgage payments from Habitat homeowners all fund Habitat projects. In-kind donations of construction materials and services are also accepted and greatly appreciated.

Today, Habitat for Humanity of Dane County is building in Sun Prairie, Stoughton and Madison. Habitat has built affordable housing in 18 communities across Dane County, helping establish many healthy neighborhoods. View our map to see past, present and future build locations.

Absolutely – Habitat for Humanity of Dane County is an IRS-designed 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, so your gifts are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law. Your donations to Habitat for Humanity of Dane County make a long- term investment in the community. In fact, just 10 percent of the Habitat budget goes to administrative expenses while 90 percent goes directly to helping families in our program. Read more in our annual report and meet the families who are currently in the process of building with us.

We will never rent, sell or trade any of your personal information with any organization, including Habitat for Humanity International. Please review our Donor Privacy Policy for more information.

To update your mailing preferences with Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, please contact us at habitat@habitatdane.org. To update your mailing preferences with Habitat for Humanity International, please contact them at publicinfo@habitat.org.

To get started, sign up directly on Habitat for Humanity of Dane County’s Volunteer Hub page. If you are interested in volunteering on an ongoing basis or coordinating a group volunteering event, email volunteer@habitatdane.org.

You can cancel anytime by removing yourself from the Volunteer Hub or emailing volunteer@habitatdane.org.

The minimum age required to volunteer is 16 years old. This is a Habitat International regulation. Youth age 16 and older may engage in most all ReStore and construction activities, provided they are not designated hazardous activities. Individuals must be 18 years old to operate power tools and work at heights above 6 feet.

If you do not feel safe to drive due to weather conditions, please don’t. To learn about weather-related cancellations on our build sites, call the weather line at 608.255.1549, ext. 211. We update this line at 7:30 a.m. each workday. If you are signed up to work at Habitat ReStore, you will be contacted regarding any closures.

Everything that you need for volunteering will be supplied. Volunteers may bring their own hand tools, such as work gloves, hammers, construction measuring tapes, tool belts, marking pencils and utility knives. However, Habitat does not take responsibility for lost or damaged items.

Lunch is not provided by the Habitat team. We encourage individuals to pack a lunch. Coffee, water and limited snacks are available each day.

We encourage volunteers to dress in layers. Please wear clothing that can get dirty, stained, etc. Heavy footwear is recommended and closed toed shoes must be worn. No open-toed or high-heeled shoes are permitted.

Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates safe, affordable homes with volunteer labor, donations of money and materials and with the help of Habitat partner families. Habitat sells homes to partner families at market value, and homes are financed with affordable loans.

Habitat does not give away homes. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners are required to put in between 275 to 425 of sweat equity toward the building of their own home. These sweat equity hours are stretched out over nine to 12 months. Loans with low to no interest rates make a Habitat for Humanity home affordable and possible. All payments are based on 28 to 30 percent of the homeowner’s gross income.

Families in need of safe, decent and affordable housing may receive an application at an upcoming Habitat informational meeting or at the Habitat office. Our family selection committee carefully chooses homeowners based on their level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay the low to no-interest loan. Habitat for Humanity of Dane County follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion, or any other protected class, is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat homes.

A family needs to be willing to complete between 275 to 425 hours of sweat equity, attend homeownership workshops and become a Habitat ambassador in the community. Families are counted on to be a good neighbor, maintain their home and pay their mortgage on time.

The application process usually takes eight to 12 weeks after submitting the application. You will be notified in writing when the process has been completed.

The costs of homes vary depending on the size and type. The average appraisal cost of a Habitat home in Dane County is $250,000. Habitat homes are affordable for low-income families because monthly mortgage payments are based on the buyer’s income and creative financing resources are utilized to fit the buyer’s situation.

The money needed to build a home is raised through the generous contributions of individuals, churches, businesses and organizations. These monetary contributions, generous in-kind donations, volunteer time and homeowner sweat equity combine to bring safe, decent and affordable housing to families in need.

Yes. Everyone can shop at Habitat ReStore Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations can be made Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Call or check the ReStore tab for holiday hours or weather-related closures.

We receive new donations every day. Stop in often or follow our Facebook page to see the newest inventory.

Habitat ReStore does not negotiate on prices with customers. All proceeds from the ReStores go directly to build Habitat for Humanity homes.

Drop off items or give us a call and we’ll pick them up. Please check out our accepted materials list to see what items we can take. You can drop off anytime Tuesday – Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6201 Odana Road or 4207 Monona Drive. Or, call us to schedule a free pick-up at 608.663.1191. You can also schedule your pick-up online. Since 2002 we’ve saved 8,718 tons of material from entering Dane County landfills.

Habitat ReStore is part of Habitat for Humanity, which is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. All donations are eligible to receive a tax deduction. However, we cannot place a value on any donations for tax purposes. This is the responsibility of the donor.

All sales at Habitat ReStore are final. The only exception to this is appliances. Appliances must be returned within seven days.

Flexible volunteer positions are available every Tuesday through Saturday in a variety of roles to help keep the ReStores running smoothly. Visit Habitat’s Volunteer Hub page for upcoming opportunities.

Free service is offered by Habitat ReStore to carefully remove kitchen cabinets, appliances, bathroom vanities and fixtures, doors and other usable items before a remodel or tear down. Contact our on-site removal team at restore@restoredane.org or 608.618.9395 to have your project reviewed and scheduled.