Habitat for Humanity opened its second Valley ReStore in October in Harlingen.  “We wanted to strengthen our presence in Cameron County and provide low-cost building materials and home accessories,” said Wayne Lowry, regional executive director of the nonprofit.

The McAllen ReStore, selling new and used home décor, furniture and building materials, has been netting enough to cover the cost of half a house a month, Lowry said.  “Our typical house is $45-$50,000 in hard costs. We try to raise half of that in sponsorship and the other half at ReStore.”

Valley businesses continue to contribute a large portion of the Habitat funding that does not come from the resale stores. “Boggus Ford in McAllen and Harlingen has been really good in supporting us directly and some of our homeowners, with appliances or a tree.  Capital One contributes $10,000 annually. Sierra Title has been a huge help. The Harlingen Board of Realtors have volunteered and also raised funds.  Wells Fargo Bank paid for and helped build from the ground up one of the houses in Primera. South Texas Electric Co-op comes out once month with 15 or so people when we have a big roofing project, and they work hard for the whole day.”

The list goes on. Texas Regional Bank is contributing $30,000 to fund a project in partnership with TSTC, with TSTC construction program students working on the house, Lowry said.  “It’s an opportunity for students to learn on the job.” SpawGlass sends volunteers from its office as well as sponsoring a day by donating $500, which helps cover logistical costs for the day, such as supplies, food and water.  “That’s becoming more and more of a necessity as we get more groups out.”

Businesses contribute in additional ways. When Rush Trucking remodeled its offices, the used furniture and fixtures were donated to ReStore.  NIU donates floor models of chairs, tables and other furniture. (ReStore’s truck can pick up business donations.) Zarsky Lumber donated materials as well as a secure place to hold building supplies during construction.

Businesses and community organizations frequently volunteer as a group to help build a house. Habitat for Humanity has a construction manager and crew who work Tuesday through Saturday, preparing for volunteers to tackle painting, framing and flooring on Fridays and Saturdays.  Volunteers get safety training and orientation before they get down to work, under the guidance of the construction manager.

The typical build is 15-20 people, Lowry said, usually a group, although individuals are welcome. H-E-B women employees who participated in a recent build found the experience rewarding. “They truly enjoyed investing their time and sweat equity to build a home and lay a loving foundation for a well deserving family. They look forward to doing it again soon,” said an H-E-B spokesperson.

“Everyone receives basic training and leaves with new skills,” Lowry said. “It’s a great team building experience. We are booked with volunteers through the end of the year, and we’re excited about next year.” This fiscal year the nonprofit will build 13 homes across the Valley: Alamo, Pharr, Harlingen, Primera and San Benito. “The growth over last year is due to generous outpourings from local businesses. We recently received a commitment from McAllen South Rotary to sponsor a $25,000 project in McAllen.”

Lowry explained that each region has a family selection committee, which interviews applicant families, and determines if they meet program guidleines. Three criteria are need, the ability to be financially responsible and willingness to partner via sweat equity for a minimum of 200 hours.

Habitat builds on lots it owns that were either donated or purchased at a discount. The homeowner purchases the home at zero percent interest. The typical mortgage payment is below $400 per month, including taxes and insurance, and meets all federal lending guidelines with Habitat carrying the note.

In the Habitat business model, 100% of donated funds goes directly to the home building program. “Our administrative costs are covered thru ReStore,” Lowry said.

The new ReStore at 1305 Oklahoma Ave. is in startup mode with Lowry trying to develop a steady inflow fostering steady sales, but it already has pallets of new hardwood flooring for sale along with shingles, large packets of wildflower mix, bathroom vanity tops with built-in sinks, furniture and paintings.  “You never know what you are going to get.  Most of the donations come from individuals, although several select retailers donate on a regular basis,” he said.

The larger McAllen location at 412 W. Ash Ave. has been in operation for 10 years, and it has rapid inventory turnover.  If you bring a copy of this article to either ReStore, you will receive 10% off your purchase, Lowry said.

For more information, see habitat.rgv.org. 

This story by Eileen Mattei appears in the December 2015 edition of Valley Business Report. For more stories from the December edition, click on the “Current & Past Issues” tab.