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Building affordable & energy efficient homes in Fremont County, WY

Mission Statement

Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country is a Christian based organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat believes every man, woman, and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.

Thank you for visiting our website. We appreciate your interest in Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country, and the work we do in Fremont County. We are very grateful for those who have supported us throughout the years, whether it be financially or through the sweat of their brow in the volunteer effort. It takes a lot to make these houses become a reality. Fortunately, we have been blessed with the people to make dreams come true.

Two things you didn't know about us:

  • Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country

    Habitat for Humanity does not give away homes. Our homeowners pay a monthly mortgage, which supports the Habitat effort.

  • Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country

    Your local Habitat Affiliate does not receive money from Habitat for Humanity International. In fact, we are required to support them. New home construction is financed by grants, donations, retail sales, fundraisers, and mortgage payments from Habitat homeowners.

About Us

History

Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country (HFHWRC) was established in 1997 with the goal of providing homeowner opportunities for low income, high energy-efficient housing. HFHWRC was founded on the belief that every man, woman, and child should have an adequate, safe place to live.

History

HFHWRC serves Fremont County, Wyoming, which encompasses over 9200 square miles. Since its’ inception, HFHWRC has built 19 homes.

Homes have been built in Shoshoni, WY (2), Arapaho, WY (2), Ft. Washakie, WY (2), Riverton, WY (11), Lander, WY (1) and Pavillion, WY (1).

Typically, Habitat for Humanity Affiliates will use 25-50% of the Area Median Income as their window of service. Fifty percent of the median income would be the upper-income guideline and would reflect need. With an excessively high poverty rate, and increasing low-income population and 75 plus year old homes going for premium prices, affordable housing in Fremont County is a near non-existent commodity.

Habitat for Humanity can help ease that burden with financial assistance from concerned community supporters and volunteers, thereby increasing the number of low-income, affordable homes.

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Benefits of Building

There are several benefits to the Habitat program. As a result of building the home, HFHWRC is providing a low income, high energy efficient house for a family in need, thereby fulfilling a basic human necessity. Being selected for this program means the homeowner has to go through New Home Owner training.

Benefits of Building

This training focuses on developing and improving the financial literacy of people who have lived in low-income or even poverty conditions. These past experiences usually result in credit issues and money management challenges.

One of the goals of the homeowner process is to facilitate the movement of someone from poverty to a more enriched and responsible role in the community. By making our new homeowner a more responsible part of the community, we are increasing the chances their children will do likewise. Statistics support the fact children do better in school and have better self-esteem if the home they reside in is something to be proud of.

Each build brings together people from all walks of life to focus on one common goal: building a home. The typical home build brings in over 100 volunteers and contractors who contribute to the construction of the home. In the fall of 2013, a valuable group of individuals was added to the Habitat team. The Riverton High School - Geometry in Construction program provides the primary construction force involved in building Habitat homes. (read more about the RHS-GIC under their own page via the navigation bar.) In 2017, we partnered with yet another local group. The Wind River Job Corps joined the Habitat team to add their expertise to the construction process.

Volunteers, students, and contractors work side-by-side with the recipient family. One of the conditions of receiving a Habitat home is that the family is required to work 500 "Sweat Equity Hours" as a way of having a vested interest in their home. Friends and family members may help the recipient family work up to half of their Sweat Equity Hours.

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Funding

It is a common misconception that the local Habitat Affiliate receives tens of thousands of dollars each year from Habitat for Humanity International. On the contrary, local Affiliates do not receive any funds from Habitat International but instead are required to support Habitat International financially.

Funding

Habitat homes are constructed with funds received from grants, donations, proceeds from sales at the Habitat ReStore, existing homeowner mortgages, and fundraising events. Most grants come from larger businesses that operate in the Fremont County area. The Habitat ReStore is a retail outlet that sells new and used household and construction items designed to generate revenue to support the Habitat mission. Monthly mortgage payments from existing homeowners also go to support home construction. Fundraising events generate additional funding on an infrequent basis.

If you are interested in supporting Habitat for Humanity, see our "Donate" page on the navigation bar.

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Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country
Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country

RHS-GIC

Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country is honored to be partnered with the Riverton (WY) High School - Geometry in Construction program. These are the folks that "git 'r done"!

RHS-GIC has completed four houses as of the spring of 2020

In 2013, Habitat entered into a partnership with the Riverton (WY) High School Geometry in Construction (GIC) program. Providing both core and elective credits for students, the GIC program divides the student's time between in-class geometry instruction and hands-on practical application of the learned principles through an actual construction project. Students in the GIC program are eligible for concurrent college credits through Central Wyoming College.

RHI-GIC

Students who continue with the program for two years, learn at the hands of master craftsmen in such fields as framing, plumbing, electrical, painting, drywall, and numerous other facets of construction. These students will graduate high school with two years of hands-on, practical experience, which prepares them to more readily enter the workforce.

RHS-GIC has completed four houses as of the spring of 2020.  The house is a stick-built house built in a modular fashion. Once near completion, the two pieces are moved and seated on the foundation. From that point, the majority of the work remaining is finish work, hook-ups, and landscaping.

As Habitat for Humanity strives to fulfill such a basic need for local citizens, our partnership with the RHF-GIC program greatly increases the value of our work in Fremont County. We even have one student whose family was the recipient of a Habitat home when he was a child and became one of the students in the GIC program.

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News

NEWS, UPDATES & INFO

Habitat for Humanities Receives Grants

Habitat for Humanity recently received a construction grant for $10,000 from Bank of the West and
a grant from Rocky Mountain Power for $2500. These grants will help support the work done by
Riverton High School's Geometry in Construction program who builds the Habitat homes.

Habitat for Humanity, Wind River Country

FAQ

No. Habitat builds homes for selected families who pay a monthly mortgage payment at a zero or low-interest rate. These mortgage payments go to support Habitat and the continued mission.

No. Most people believe Habitat for Humanity International provides funds to local Affiliates to build homes. Local Habitat Affiliates are responsible for raising their own funds through grants, donations, fundraising activities, or retail sales through the ReStore.

No. Unfortunately, funding is insufficient for Habitat to remodel homes or provide financial support to repair homes. Though it is an option available to local Habitat Affiliates, there isn't enough money to build new homes and remodel old homes.

Click on the Home Ownership tab to learn more about applying for a Habitat home, and when we will be accepting applications.

No. The local Habitat Affiliate has no connection to the United Way.

Yes. However, Habitat International takes a percentage of each donation earmarked for a local Affiliate so that Affiliate does not receive the entire amount donated to it.