Home Builders Blitz 2006

In 2006, custom homebuilders built 20 homes in Wake County in one week. With Habitat Wake as the model, 130 affiliates across the country built 440 -- the largest blitz in Habitat's 30-year history. The number of homes built is 8 percent of all Habitat homes built in 2006; the total value of the homes was in excess of $25 million.

In the Triangle, 30 homes were built, which was more than any other region! The kickoff and closing ceremonies for Home Builders Blitz 2006 were held in Raleigh, NC. The 45-minute closing ceremony included greetings from Habitat International; the national and local Homebuilders Association; Mayor of Raleigh, Charles Meeker; and remarks from several of the new homeowners. Following the program, Golden Corral provided a buffet dinner and the 20 new homes were opened for touring.

A Family at Home

A homeowner from the Home Builders Blitz 2006 said that her children didn't have their own space to play in at the apartment where the family lived, but she knew that the new house would provide a yard so that she could feel safe about them going outside. In addition to feeling safe, she and her children were excited about the extra space their new home provides:

"I am quite sure the house will be bigger than our apartment!"

In preparation for taking ownership of her new Habitat home, she took the classes Habitat Wake provides to all future homeowners. "I really like the program," she said. "Not only do they help you get in your house, but they show you how to maintain it. I like that."

The Builders Blitz Model

Prior to the build week, the build site is fully prepped and footings, foundations and driveways are installed. On Monday morning framing crews begin construction and by Friday at noon the houses are fully built and landscaped. Dedications vary. In 2002, everyone involved-builders, sponsors, and families-celebrated at a block party on Friday afternoon. In 2006, the neighborhood celebration included the reading of a poem from a homeowner and a buffet dinner from Golden Corral.

The builders each donate a week of their time to oversee the building of one home and attended monthly one-hour planning meetings for a year. They also solicit their own subcontractors and suppliers to donate their labor and/or materials. Other building community partners-realtors, commercial builders, closing attorneys, building insurance companies, the NC Housing Finance Agency, and many others-have participated through cash contributions to help offset any shortfalls in material and service donations.

Builders for 2006

Participating Builders in the 2006 Home Builders Blitz:

History of the Home Builders Blitz

In 2002, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County board member Tom Gipson (Thomas Gipson Homes of Raleigh) organized a builders blitz that has grown in scope here in Wake County and has become a national model for partnership.