MILWAUKEE — What goes up, must come down. In the case of many homes around southeastern Wisconsin, Habitat for Humanity is around for both.
To most, Habitat for Humanity’s work to build up neighborhoods is well-known. However, its lesser-known deconstruction team works year-round, gathering and repurposing older materials from homes. In 2018, the deconstruction team salvaged more than $670,000 worth of materials from homes, moving them into Habitat’s ReStore shops to be resold.
The deconstruction program has been a part of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity since 2012. Since then, the team’s 515 salvaging jobs have produced more than $2.9 million for the organization construction projects in Southeastern Wisconsin.
The materials are taken to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore shops where they are sold. The proceeds go toward building projects in southeastern Wisconsin.
In Milwaukee's Midtown neighborhood, Habitat for Humanity is building and repairing 100 homes through 2021. It marks the highest concentration of single-family homes building in Milwaukee since World War II.
"We're able to bring funds into our community that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. In fact, those funds would’ve been dumped into a local landfill," said Jake Brandt, marketing director for Habitat for Humanity.
As the program heads into another year of operation, they’re looking for more people who hope to give old things a new purpose.
You can visit local ReStore locations in:
- ReStore Wauwatosa: 3015 N 114th, Wauwatosa, 53222
- ReStore Walker’s Point: 420 S. 1st, Milwaukee 53204
- ReStore Greenfield: 4150 S. 108th, Greenfield 53228
Pickups can be scheduled at milwaukeerestore.org, or by email at restoredonation@milwaukeehabitat.org.
