At Alliant Energy, we share Habitat for Humanity’s vision of building stronger communities where everyone has access to a decent, affordable home.
Our company contributes to Habitat for Humanity in many ways including recent building events with Wisconsin’s Habitat for Humanity of Dane County (HHDC) and Iowa’s Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity (CVHH). For years, our employees have helped build affordable homes for families in need, and our company has provided the space in which to do it.
“The panel build experience is unique because the company and its employee volunteers bring so much energy to the project,” said Leslie Neugebauer, development director at CVHH. “When we do a panel event with Alliant Energy, we … benefit tremendously from the labor and camaraderie of 60 to 75 employees, plus the ample space the company generously provides. Panel builds with Alliant Energy allow us to get the walls built in less than a day’s time.”
At a typical panel build we recently held at our Windsor, Wisconsin, operations center, Alliant Energy employees worked alongside HHDC homeowners, staff and volunteers to frame the walls of a new house. Volunteers and staff would later bring the walls to their permanent location and install them. This is called a home build, an event at which volunteers and homeowners also paint, place siding, do landscaping and perform other tasks.
“Panel and home builds like the ones we do with Alliant Energy are sustainable efforts that move people out of hunger and housing insecurity,” said Jenny Ballweg, Dane County Habitat for Humanity’s vice president of communications. “Families with high housing costs typically spend less on food and healthcare than those with affordable housing.” Ballweg added home ownership for families boosts kids’ likelihood to graduate high school and doubles their likelihood to graduate college. For some new homeowners the organization helps, she said, it may be the first time in their lives they have a chance to invest in their own development.
The experience is meaningful to employee volunteers as well. Cory Hoffmann, general manager of CRANDIC RAIL, a Travero company, and CVHH board member said, “… there’s quite a synergy there … seeing the results is very motivating to everyone involved.”
In addition to panel and home builds, we donated blocks in our Community Solar – Cedar Rapids and Fond du Lac gardens to CVHH and Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County. This allows Habitat for Humanity homeowners who opt in to receive credits on their electric bills from the energy the solar site generates.
“Alongside their affordable Habitat mortgage, this partnership will further empower Cedar Valley Habitat homeowners through savings on the cost of their energy bills,” said Brittany Scanlon, CVHH executive director. “Taking away the pressures of staying housed and keeping the lights on allows our families to focus on other essential needs.”
As a company with a strong commitment to building stronger communities, Alliant Energy is proud to support Habitat for Humanity to help make affordable home ownership possible.