Simple, Decent, Affordable

Whether in the La Crosse area, the United States, or in more than 100 other countries around the world, Habitat for Humanity houses are built according to the same guiding principles. Habitat houses are:

Simple. Habitat houses are modestly sized—large enough for the homeowner family's needs, but small enough to keep construction and maintenance costs to a minimum. The size of houses shall not exceed the following limits unless special circumstances warrant increases and an increase in size is approved by the Habitat-La Crosse Area board of directors:
- Two-bedroom—990 square feet
- Three-bedroom—1,150 square feet
- Four-bedroom—1,250 square feet

Decent. Habitat for Humanity uses quality, locally available building materials. Trained staff and volunteers supervise Habitat house construction and educate volunteers and partner families. Habitat for Humanity-La Crosse Area mostly builds new homes but has done some rehabs on older, dilapidated houses.

Affordable. The labor of volunteers and partner families, efficient building methods, modest house sizes, and a no-profit, no-interest loan make it affordable for low-income people to purchase the home upon completion.

Each house built by Habitat-La Crosse Area has a living room, an appropriate number of bedrooms (allowing for two same-sex children in each), kitchen/dining area, one bathroom, central heating, a basement, and a storage shed in the backyard.

Since 2008, our homes have been Energy Star rated which keeps energy bills at reasonable levels.

Homes are built in partnership with an approved family, so the house construction does not begin until the family is ready, and it is built according to their needs (i.e. size, accessibility, etc.). Neither garages nor carports are provided unless required by municipal code but once the home is sold to the partner family, they can build one for themselves.