What We Build
Since 1992, Marquette County Habitat for Humanity has built 109 homes all over Marquette County. All Habitat houses follow three guiding principles:
- Simple: Habitat houses are modestly-sized. They are large enough for the homeowner family's needs, but small enough to keep construction and maintenance costs to a minimum.
- Decent: Habitat for Humanity uses quality, locally-available building materials. Habitat house designs reflect the local climate and culture.
- Affordable: The labor of volunteers and partner families, efficient building methods, modest house sizes and low interest loans make it affordable for low-income families to purchase Habitat houses.
And Marquette County Habitat for Humanity houses are Energy Star efficient!
Most homes have wood frame construction, gypsum board interior walls, vinyl siding and asphalt shingle roofs. Houses are modestly sized. For example, a 3-bedroom habitat house is allotted about 1,050 square feet of living space.
Habitat houses are built largely by volunteers overseen by our Construction Supervisor. Some of the work like electrical, plumbing and insulation are subbed out to contractors. The rest is a combination of group and individual volunteers, alongside the homeowners putting in their 250 hours of sweat equity. All of this is coordinated and supervised by Habitat construction and office staff.
Habitat has many ways of getting land for new home constructions. Sometimes, if the price is reasonable, we purchase it outright. We also accept donations of lots. In the past we have collaborated with the Marquette County Land Bank Authority to get vacant, tax foreclosed lots.
Habitat homes are typically one story, making them easier to navigate for people with physical disabilities. Design features such as a zero-step entrance and wide passage doors and hallways ensure homeowners, and their families, have equitable access to the home. The design and square footage are kept modest, saving the homeowner on future energy and maintenance costs.
Habitat homes also receive cabinets and counters from the Marquette Prison Build program.
Marquette County Habitat homes do not typically have a basement. This helps keep the cost down and also prevents against issues in the future such as leaking.
Habitat houses do not include a garage or a carport, keeping with the Habitat for Humanity International’s building guidelines. They do include a storage shed in the backyard.
