About Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity

Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.

Our Mission Statement

Using the resources God has given us to eliminate poverty housing in Northwest Wisconsin and beyond.

Our Vision

Where every person has access to decent houses in decent communities, can experience God’s love, and is able to grow into all that God intends.

All Are Welcome

Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.

Our History

Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since it was formed in 1997. We initially served Burnett County, building 16 homes in our first twelve years. In 2009, we expanded our service area into Polk County, and for the next three years, built two homes per year. In March of 2011 we opened a ReStore in St. Croix Falls. We completed our first major rehab in 2012 as well as a new construction home and recycled a home. We began our A Brush with Kindness program. To date, Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity has completed over 200 projects through the A Brush with Kindness program. Thanks to generous donations of paint from Valspar Corp. and with our relationships with Chisago County, Barron County and the Chippewa Tribe, we have been able to help with approximately 200 more projects. In 2013 we merged with Habitat affiliates in Rusk and Washburn Counties. We built six new homes and opened a second ReStore in Spooner. In 2014 Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity completed one major rehabilitation project and built four new homes. In 2015 Wild Rivers Habitat built one new home. In 2016 one new home was built as well. Home Preservation projects were also completed.

Housing must become a priority

The World is experiencing a global housing crisis. By 2020, it is estimated the world slum population will reach almost 1 billion. Lack of clean water and sanitation claim the lives of more than 1.8 million young children every year. In the United States alone, 45.5 million people are living in poverty. Minimum wage is not keeping up with the rising cost of living and many workers struggle to afford decent housing. Decent, stable housing provides more than just a roof over someone’s head.

Stability for families and children
Sense of dignity and pride
Health, physical safety and security
Increase of educational and job prospects

Clean, warm housing is essential for prevention and care of diseases of poverty like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, diarrhea, and malaria. Children under 5 in Malawi living in Habitat for Humanity houses have 44 percent less chance to contract malaria, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases compared to children living in traditional houses. The percentage of people without access to decent, stable housing is rising and increasing the housing supply across the globe is essential. Adequate housing is vitally important to the health of the world’s economies, communities and populations. If we are to succeed in the fight against poverty, we must support the expansion of housing both as policy and as practice

Learn how Habitat is making a difference

Habitat for Humanity International's Annual Report