How to apply
Applications are available online at greencountyhabitat.org. They are due by May 19.
MONROE - As Green County Habitat for Humanity seeks an eligible family to occupy a new home in New Glarus, one Monticello family is still grateful for their own Habitat home after more than a decade.
Dawn Slotten's Monticello home was built between 2003 and 2004 when Slotten and her four children were living in an apartment in New Glarus.
"It was such an improvement," Slotten said. "It was just an incredible gift."
Slotten's home was the eighth house built by Green County Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that builds houses for families living in untenable residences.
Long-time Habitat volunteer Carol Holmes said the families selected for Habitat homes are chosen from a list of applicants based on their relative need, their willingness to volunteer and their financial stability.
"Finding truly qualified families is a lot harder than you'd think," Holmes said.
All able-bodied adults in applicant families are required to work for 250 hours of "sweat equity" on the house building project, Holmes said.
Slotten said she was one of three finalist families selected for the Monticello residence. Of the three, Slotten was the only one who lifted a finger to help put it together.
"One family just pulled up in front of the house, looked at it, and drove away," Slotten said.
By contrast, Slotten said she worked nearly 500 hours on her home, swinging sledgehammers, painting walls and cooking meals.
"It was like a barn-raising," Slotten said. "Working with everyone was a wonderful experience."
Unlike many Habitat homes, Slotten's home was not built from scratch, but was instead a disused home that Habitat renovated. However, like all Habitat homes, many of the internal fixtures were donated by local businesses.
Bathroom and kitchen fixtures are donations from Kohler Co., and refrigerators and ovens are donated by Whirlpool, Holmes said. Other businesses donate items such as paint or windows.
Slotten's Monticello home was completed in spring of 2004.
"It took until Thanksgiving for it to really hit me," Slotten said. "I sat in the middle of the floor and I realized that I'd won the lottery."
Holmes said some Habitat families don't take to their new homes as well. It is not uncommon, she said, for families to fall behind on their mortgage payments.
On the other hand, Slotten was proud to say that she was actually ahead on her 30-year mortgage, and hopes to pay it off entirely in the next eight years.
Slotten said that once she has paid off her home, she hopes to work more closely with Habitat on future projects.
"I really want to work with other families and help them with their homes," Slotten said.
Habitat's next home will be built in New Glarus between this year and next year. Applications for families are due on May 19.
Volunteers, meanwhile, can apply to help on the build in July.
"When you're swinging a hammer, the sense of teamwork, of camaraderie, of accomplishment - it's huge," Holmes said. "That's the 'Humanity' part of our name."
Dawn Slotten's Monticello home was built between 2003 and 2004 when Slotten and her four children were living in an apartment in New Glarus.
"It was such an improvement," Slotten said. "It was just an incredible gift."
Slotten's home was the eighth house built by Green County Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that builds houses for families living in untenable residences.
Long-time Habitat volunteer Carol Holmes said the families selected for Habitat homes are chosen from a list of applicants based on their relative need, their willingness to volunteer and their financial stability.
"Finding truly qualified families is a lot harder than you'd think," Holmes said.
All able-bodied adults in applicant families are required to work for 250 hours of "sweat equity" on the house building project, Holmes said.
Slotten said she was one of three finalist families selected for the Monticello residence. Of the three, Slotten was the only one who lifted a finger to help put it together.
"One family just pulled up in front of the house, looked at it, and drove away," Slotten said.
By contrast, Slotten said she worked nearly 500 hours on her home, swinging sledgehammers, painting walls and cooking meals.
"It was like a barn-raising," Slotten said. "Working with everyone was a wonderful experience."
Unlike many Habitat homes, Slotten's home was not built from scratch, but was instead a disused home that Habitat renovated. However, like all Habitat homes, many of the internal fixtures were donated by local businesses.
Bathroom and kitchen fixtures are donations from Kohler Co., and refrigerators and ovens are donated by Whirlpool, Holmes said. Other businesses donate items such as paint or windows.
Slotten's Monticello home was completed in spring of 2004.
"It took until Thanksgiving for it to really hit me," Slotten said. "I sat in the middle of the floor and I realized that I'd won the lottery."
Holmes said some Habitat families don't take to their new homes as well. It is not uncommon, she said, for families to fall behind on their mortgage payments.
On the other hand, Slotten was proud to say that she was actually ahead on her 30-year mortgage, and hopes to pay it off entirely in the next eight years.
Slotten said that once she has paid off her home, she hopes to work more closely with Habitat on future projects.
"I really want to work with other families and help them with their homes," Slotten said.
Habitat's next home will be built in New Glarus between this year and next year. Applications for families are due on May 19.
Volunteers, meanwhile, can apply to help on the build in July.
"When you're swinging a hammer, the sense of teamwork, of camaraderie, of accomplishment - it's huge," Holmes said. "That's the 'Humanity' part of our name."