Home Builders Blitz: A Partnership with Custom Home Builders
The concept of a building project that would involve custom home builders as volunteers to build homes with Habitat for Humanity began in Raleigh.
In 2002, Habitat Wake board member Tom Gipson (Thomas Gipson Homes of Raleigh) organized a builders blitz -- a project to build homes in one week's time -- that has become a national model for partnership.
Throughout the U.S., the effort has built 723 homes in partnership with families living on modest incomes. Four years of Home Builder Blitzes in Wake County (2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008), have provided homes for 61 Habitat homeowners.
Kevin Campbell, Habitat for Humanity International's Director of the Home Builders Blitz said: Bringing professional home builders into Habitat's work is a natural project for a housing ministry. The builders will augment the excellent work done every day by Habitat volunteers around the world, which will help Habitat serve even more families in need.
Normally it takes eight months to build a house. The endeavor is achieved with the support of City of Raleigh inspectors, realtors, commercial builders, closing attorneys, building insurance companies, the NC Housing Finance Agency, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh/Wake County and many others who support Habitat Wake. Each year Tom has motivated participating builders to share expertise and donate materials.
Tom said in an interview with the News & Observer in 2006: When we said we would build them, we meant 100% complete -- landscaped, carpeted, cleaned -- finished as if they were the houses we usually build.
While announcing plans for Home Builders Blitz 2008, Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International said: Professional builders comprise a very logical network for Habitat to engage-and a very skilled one, as well. The Home Builders Blitz event maintains our commitment to the volunteer aspect of our work, and we're grateful for the enthusiasm with which builders continue to embrace the project-and Habitat's mission overall.
110 affiliates from 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada built homes with the help of more than 1,000 building industry professionals in 2008. For more information on the national effort, please visit the Habitat for Humanity International website.
Home Builders Blitz 2008
Construction is complete (click here for photos) for Home Builders Blitz 2008.
The 29 home builders who make up the Triangle Builders Guild, with the leadership of Habitat Wake Board Member Owen Williams, of Williams Realty & Building Company and Ward Russell of Legacy Custom Homes, made a big difference in our community.
Donating their expertise and gathering contributions of materials and labor from vendors and subcontractors, these builders built five houses for families in desperate need of decent and affordable housing.
Read About Home Builders Blitz in the News & Observer
Workers build homes in a hurry: This News & Observer story (permission requested for link) shares the story of custom homes builders from Triangle Builders Guild building a home for a local teacher's assistant.
