Keeping Homes Safe in the Fox Cites
Keeping Homes Safe in the Fox Cites
For many homeowners, the goal is simple: to stay in the home they’ve worked hard for, in the neighborhood they love, for as long as possible. But as homes age, repairs can become overwhelming, and for some families, even a small issue like a leaking roof, unsafe steps, or outdated wiring can quickly turn into a serious safety risk.
That’s why our Home Repair program is designed to help homeowners stay safe in their homes through referrals, community connections, potential direct funding solutions, or by offering a 0% deferred loan. Here at Fox Cities Habitat, we know that a home preserved is just as important as a home created.
“The Home Repair program helps homeowners understand how to prioritize the most critical repairs. We want homeowners to feel comfortable throughout the repair process and feel empowered to understand their repair needs and ask questions. Maintenance and repairs are ongoing aspects of home ownership, and through the Home Repair program we can address the repairs that are most critical to preserve the home, and for the homeowner to stay safely in their homes.” – Don, Home Repair Supervisor & Kristin, Home Repair Coordinator
Recently, we met with Rebecca, a homeowner in our Home Repair program, to talk about her experience with us. Her home was built in 2013, and she moved in approximately two years ago. Through the Home Repair program, Fox Cities Habitat was able to offer Rebecca our 0% deferred loan product to help her complete her home repairs.
Rebecca shared with us, “The reason I bought my house was because it was newly built. If the house is so new then it probably has very limited issues, or so I thought…it turns out even though it’s newer, things still went wrong”.
Urgent Repairs Beneath the Surface
The main safety concern on her home was the crawl space area. Poor insulation caused her pipes to freeze during the long winter months, leaving her with no running water. Before Habitat, she did what she feasibly could to manage this issue by adding insulation and space heaters to keep her water from freezing, but those solutions weren’t long-term. When the repair team removed the heaters she had installed, they found the cords melted together on the extension line, revealing just how urgently the crawlspace needed to be addressed.
“It was hard to sleep at night.” Rebecca told us, “If the pipes froze and burst, it would be a much bigger issue, but at the same time, I know having the heaters running could be a fire hazard. So, I not only was stressed about those hazards, but I worried about how I was even going to fix this financially.”
When Rebecca partnered with Habitat, her peace of mind began to renew.
“The Habitat Repair team was open and willing to answer all my questions and didn’t make me feel dumb. I’m really thankful. If you are someone who doesn’t know much about this stuff it’s scary. Habitat walked me through everything in great detail, which I really appreciated. Even when the contractors came here for the bids, Habitat made sure that I understood what they (the contractors) said”.
– Rebecca, Habitat Home Repair participant
Safety, Efficiency, and Long-term Stability
Her home repair project focused on improving the home’s safety, efficiency, and long-term stability. The crawlspace was upgraded to improve insulation and temperature control. Sure Dry sealed and dehumidified the space and installed a new door. Jensen Electric installed heaters with updated wiring and raised outlets for safety. The crawlspace heating system can now be controlled separately from the main furnace, helping prevent frozen pipes and reducing the risk of costly structural damage from pipe bursts.
A new roof, gutters, and downspouts, installed by Romportls Contracting, will provide proper ventilation and improve drainage to help protect the home’s foundation.
Additionally, a few energy-efficient windows are scheduled for installation in early March and will help maintain indoor temperatures and reduce heat loss.
“I’m looking forward to being able to actually enjoy my home and not just stress about it. I would definitely recommend this program. In my situation, it came pretty close to being something major that could have been much more devastating. The hardest thing for me was to not be ashamed to ask for help because I am a middle-income person.
People just have that perception that some people don’t need this type of assistance. Everyone needs help sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much you make, everyone has one point in their life where they need help with something and I’m super grateful that Habitat and this program was here to help me.” – Rebecca
The repair work for this family is part of Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity’s Home Repair program, supported by a $344,000 award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s Affordable Housing Program General Fund, secured in partnership with Nicolet National Bank.
As the sponsoring member institution, Nicolet National Bank worked with Habitat to bring these critical resources to our community. Through this funding, Habitat is able to complete essential, owner-occupied home repairs that help low- and moderate-income homeowners remain safely and affordably in the homes they love.
Matching support for this project is also provided by the WHEDA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. Its $50,000 grant strengthens our ability to invest in safe housing and community stability, ensuring that families across our region can continue to thrive.
We are grateful to Nicolet National Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, and the WHEDA Foundation for their shared commitment to strengthening neighborhoods and expanding access to safe, stable housing.
How the Home Repair Program Works
We relaunched our Home Repair program in July 2025. Interested homeowners fill out the form on our Fox Cities Habitat Home Repair Program page. After the interest form is submitted, our team will connect to determine eligibility. If eligibility requirements are met, an application will be sent. Once approved, the repair process begins!
After an application is accepted, our team will visit the home to complete an assessment, address concerns, identify critical repairs, and answer any questions the homeowner may have. We also help coordinate specialized contractors, guide homeowners through the bid process, and ensure they feel confident and informed every step of the way.
Interested in the Home Repair program? Get started here: Fox Cities Habitat Home Repair Program
If you would like to learn more about how we support this program, please reach out to Amy McGowan at amym@foxcitieshabitat.org or 920-378-8613.