Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity delivered a modular home to Nutt Lane in White River Junction this month, marking the first project under new executive director Ashley Andreas as the nonprofit confronts inflation-driven construction costs.
The three-bedroom home will house a mother and her three daughters by summer, according to Andreas, who began leading the organization in October. A crane delivered the home’s two halves to the site, where it will be completed with help from local students and volunteers.
Andreas took control of the nonprofit during a challenging period when inflation and economic instability have increased building expenses across the construction industry. Despite these obstacles, she remains committed to expanding the organization’s visibility and impact in the Upper Valley region.
“Having us be one of the most visible nonprofits in the Upper Valley feels important to me,” Andreas said. “We do have such an amazing, supportive community here, and I think that a lot of folks just don’t know about us.”
Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity operates as part of Habitat for Humanity International, which has built homes in every state and more than 60 countries since its founding in 1976. The global nonprofit gained prominence in the 1980s through former President Jimmy Carter’s volunteer work, with his annual Carter Work Project renovating or repairing nearly 4,500 homes over three decades.
Vermont currently hosts seven Habitat affiliates that collectively build approximately one dozen homes annually, according to the organization. Upper Valley Habitat contributes one home to that statewide total and partners with COVER Home Repair, a local nonprofit that provides free wheelchair ramps, roof replacements and weatherization services for low-income Vermonters.
The Nutt Lane project attracted significant interest from prospective homeowners, with twenty people applying for the single available home, Andreas reported. This demand reflects a broader housing affordability challenge in the region, where Habitat homes provide one of the few pathways to homeownership for moderate-income families.
Habitat homes require mortgage payments rather than providing free housing, Andreas explained. The nonprofit purchases building materials and coordinates volunteer labor to reduce construction costs, but homeowners typically finance between $100,000 and $150,000 for their properties.
Applicants must meet specific income requirements and prequalify for mortgages to become eligible for Habitat homes. These financial prerequisites can create barriers for some potential homeowners, even as demand far exceeds the organization’s building capacity.
Andreas has pursued creative financing strategies to stretch the nonprofit’s limited resources, which come primarily from grants and donations. For the Nutt Lane project, Upper Valley Habitat secured a zero-interest construction loan from the Vermont Community Loan Fund through a partnership with Hartford Area Career & Technical Center.
Students from the school’s Building Trades program prepared the foundation and will assist with drywall, cabinet and trim installation. “Programs like that are really pivotal in being able to bring the cost of construction down to a mortgage that the family can afford,” Andreas said.
The partnership model demonstrates how Habitat leverages community resources to maintain affordability while providing educational opportunities for local students. This approach helps address both workforce development needs and housing costs simultaneously.
Habitat homeowners must contribute “sweat-equity hours” by working on construction sites, performing office tasks, or using other skills to support the organization’s mission. Most families choose on-site construction work, where they learn building skills while participating in their home’s creation, according to Andreas.
The homes also include perpetual affordability requirements that prevent owners from selling to the highest bidder. This restriction ensures properties remain accessible to moderate-income families but may limit owners’ ability to build equity for future home purchases.
Andreas views this trade-off as creating lasting community benefits. “It creates a guarantee that there’s a starter home available in the community for less than $400,000,” she said.
The organization continues seeking volunteers and donations to expand its capacity beyond one home per year while maintaining its focus on sustainable, affordable homeownership in the Upper Valley region.