Situation: Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit, Christian housing ministry which partners with the community to provide affordable housing for low income families. Each home is purchased by the family for the value of the materials without charge for the volunteer labor or allowance for profit. Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity (GDM Habitat) was founded in 1986; by 2003 the organization was well established, but not attracting the public attention, volunteers, donations and other resources desired to help families in central Iowa achieve home ownership.

PR Action: Hanser & Associates reached out to the organization’s new executive director and board of directors in 2003. The firm wrote a strategic public relations plan and began providing pro-bono PR services, including media relations and public information brochures. We also placed hundreds of news stories about GDM Habitat home builds in local news media since 2003, and Des Moines media often turn out to report the news of a home dedication. We also helped the organization introduce new fundraising and volunteer recruitment initiatives to the community, including the ‘Mr. Habitat’ event and annual participation in Des Moines Home and Garden Show.

Results: GDM Habitat built its 100th house in December 2008, helping 100 families to achieve homeownership. More than half of the houses were completed in 2006-2008. Volunteers are typically building 5 homes at a time, and 22 projects are expected to be completed during 2009.

Posted: March 25, 2009 at 2:27 pm by sarag