Frequent Questions

Habitat for Humanity builds simple, affordable homes with and for families, couples and individuals in need of housing.

Where we Build

Since 1984, we have built 115 homes in Northwest Vermont. Check out our Past Projects page to view some of our Habitat homes!

Past Projects

Unfortunately we do not do home repairs; however we do have a comprehensive list of resources that we hope will be helpful.

Home Repair Resources

For land inquiries, including sales and donations, please contact our Real Estate and Construction Development Manager, Robin Pierce. His email is rpierce@vermonthabitat.org.

For questions regarding one of our projects, please contact our Real Estate and Construction Development Manager, Robin Pierce. His email is rpierce@vermonthabitat.org.

The timeline depends on how many volunteers we get! The more volunteers we get, the sooner we can complete a house. We have several large projects in our pipeline that won’t break ground for years, so the process for those projects is long. The construction of a home can also face unseen circumstances, good and bad, that can alter the timeline of a build.

You can view our open positions on our employment page.

We do not give the homes we build away. We have a saying at Green Mountain Habitat that we offer a ‘hand up, not a hand out.’ Our partner families purchase the homes at-cost and pay an affordable mortgage that is often less than what they were previously paying in rent.

Proceeds from sales at the ReStores help fund the construction of affordable housing here in Northwest Vermont. We do not receive any funding from Habitat for Humanity International, so all funds must be raised locally. Our ReStores play an important role in helping families achieve the dream of homeownership. When you shop at the ReStores, your money stays local!

Please contact our Marketing Manager, Ellie Scott, with any media inquiries. Her email is escott@vermonthabitat.org.

We operate three ReStore locations in Williston, Milton, and Swanton.

Our Williston ReStore is located at 528 Essex Rd, Williston. The store is open for shopping Mon-Fri 10-6 and Sat-Sun 10-5. The donation lane is open Tue-Sun 10-2. Donation hours may vary based on seasonality.

Our Milton ReStore is located at 414 Route 7 S, Milton. The store is open for shopping Mon-Fri 10-6 and Sat-Sun 10-5. The donation lane closed one hour prior to store closing. Donation hours may vary based on seasonality.

Our Swanton ReStore is located at 104 Robin Hood Dr, Swanton. The store is open for shopping Tues-Sat 9-3. The donation lane is open Tues, Thurs, and Sat 9-2.

Please note that hours are subject to change per store discretion due to staffing. Follow us on social media to stay informed!

Learn More about ReStores

Williston ReStore: 802-857-5296 x 2
Milton ReStore: 802-857-5296 x 3
Swanton ReStore: 802-857-5296 x 4

We gladly accept new and gently used:

• Antiques
• Appliances
  • Gas and electric ovens (no double ovens)
  • Range hoods, range tops
  • Refrigerators, washers, dryers
  • HVAC equipment
  • Wood and gas stoves
• Artwork
• Books
• Cabinetry (good condition; doors and drawers intact)
  • Full kitchen and bathroom sets
  • Individual cabinets, built-in cabinets
  • Hardware
• Clothing (clean; no rips or stains)
• Electronics (less than five years old; working order)
• Flooring (100 sq. ft or greater)
  • Hardwood, laminate, carpet, new padding
  • Slate, marble, ceramic tile
• Furniture (New to gently used. No rips, stains, or pet damage)
  • Bedroom and living room furniture
  • Bookshelves, desks, dining tables, chairs
  • Outdoor and patio furniture
• Garden supplies (no plastic pots)
  • Rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows
  • Planting supplies, carts, etc.
• Hardware
  • Complete sets of door hardware
  • Hinges, nails, screws, hangers, etc.
• Home goods
  • Dishes, pots, pans, pottery
  • Lamps, small appliances, décor
• Lumber and plywood (6ft or longer; no scraps)
• Plumbing
• Recreational equipment
  • Skis, sleds, golf clubs, sporting goods, camping equipment
• Small engines
  • Lawnmowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, snowblowers, chainsaws
• Tools (in working order)
• Trial mattress (donated by a manufacturer, not an individual)
• TVs (thin, flat-screen only)
• Vehicles
  • Cars, trucks, bikes, boats, RVs, snowmobiles, ATVs

We politely decline:

• Items that are torn, ripped, stained, pet-damaged, broken, moldy or odorous
• Anything that holds a baby (stroller, car seats, etc)
• Baby items/bottles
• Baby cribs
• Bathmats
• Bed frames
• Bed pillows
• Box springs (used)
• Broken picture frames
• Ceiling fans
• Children’s car seats
• Corded blinds
• CRT style TVs
• Electronics older than 10 years
• Fax machines, printers, and scanners
• Fluorescent and can lights
• Hardwired goods
• Hazardous materials or liquids
• Helmets/safety equipment
• Hollow core doors
• Humidifiers
• Library books
• Light bulbs
• Litter boxes
• Magazines
• Mattresses (used)
• Moldy materials
• Open cleaning products
• Paint and stain
• Sheetrock sheets less than 4×4
• Stuffed toys (unless new)
• Suitcases (unless vintage or brand new)
• Toilets/toilet seats (unless new)
• Unframed mirrors and glass
• Used training potty

We only accept items we can sell. Our staff reserves the right to deny any items deemed not sellable in our stores. If you have an item you’d like to donate but are unsure if we will accept it, please give us a call at (802) 857-5296 or email us. Our staff is happy to answer your questions!

Unfortunately, we do not deliver. Customers are responsible for picking up large items from the ReStore within two days of purchase for the Williston and Milton ReStores and one week for the Swanton ReStore. Items that are not picked up will be put back up for sale.

For unclaimed items, customers can receive a refund within two weeks of the purchase date with a valid receipt. Refunds will not be issued after two weeks. Refunds will not be issued without a receipt.

We have an online scheduling tool for free donation pick-ups from residential properties. For businesses looking to donate items to our ReStores, please contact our Procurement Manager, Diana, darfine@vermonthabitat.org.

Please call our Dispatch Representative at 802-857-5296 x 1.

We accept vehicles at our ReStores! Please visit our Cars for Homes page for more detailed information.

We do not accept returns. However, our electronics are all tested, but they can be returned within 30 days of purchase with a receipt.

We can hold furniture at our Williston and Milton ReStores for 2 days. At our Swanton ReStore, we can hold furniture for up to one week. If the item is not picked up, the item will be up for sale. If the item is put back on sale, the customer can receive store credit for their purchase if they bring in a receipt within two weeks of purchase. We will not issue store credit without a receipt.

No, we will not hold items via Facebook. We do accept payment over the phone.

No, we do not fix electronics.

For volunteer questions, please reach out to volunteer@vermonthabitat.org. Our Volunteer Department will be happy to answer any questions. Learn more about our volunteer program on our volunteer page!

If you have court-mandated volunteer hours, please contact volunteer@vermonthabitat.org and our Volunteer Department will provide you will all necessary information.

No! Our sites are open to anyone, regarless of experience. Our Construction Project Managers will provide training for all materials and tasks.

ReStore volunteers must be at least 14 years of age. Construction volunteers can be 16 years old to volunteer on site, but they are not permitted to use power tools. Construction volunteers that are 18 years or older can use power tools.

We’d love to have your group! To register a group, contact volunteer@vermonthabitat.org.

A Team Build is a sponsored opportunity, which requires a donation and includes Habitat swag, social media promotion, and lunch. A Group Build is a volunteer build day that does not require a donation and DOES NOT include social media promotion, swag, or lunch. Visit our volunteer page or contact volunteer@vermonthabitat.org with any questions!

Check out our VolunteerUp guide for step-by-step instructions on registration and signing up for a shift.

Check out our guide for clocking in and out of shifts!

Clocking in/out guide

Applicants qualify to apply for a Habitat home. The requirements are:

• Housing need
• Ability to pay an affordable mortgage
• Willingness to partner with Habitat

If applicants are eligible and willing, they will complete an application with either Champlain Housing Trust (Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties) OR Downstreet Housing (Lamoille county). Visit our homeownership page to learn more!

Applicants are eligible for a Habitat home if they earn up to 80% of the Median Area Income (see below). Applicants must also demonstrate a need for affordable housing. Finally, applicants must be willing to partner with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity and complete sweat equity hours. To learn more about our program, visit our application page.

2024 HUD Income Limits

HHI: Household Income
This information applies to all of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA.

# in Household*1234567Minimum HHI$25,000Maximum HHI$66,600$76,100$85,600$95,100$102,750$110,350$125,550

*Household means all related or unrelated persons who occupy a housing unit.

Once selected, future Habitat homeowners must partner with us throughout the process. This partnership includes performing “sweat equity”. We want our homeowners to feel invested in the construction of their future homes. A single head of household must complete 200 hours of sweat equity, with at least 75 of those hours helping to build their home or the homes of others. Two heads of household must complete 400 hours of sweat equity with at least 150 hours at the home build site. Other sweat equity hours may include working at the Habitat ReStores, completing financial training, homeownership training, and meeting with Habitat staff.

Champlain Housing Trust or Downstreet Housing will determine if applicants are financially eligible to partner with Habitat. Champlain Housing Trust and Downstreet Housing have additional requirements for their programs, such as personal finance and homebuying workshops.

Then, the Family Selection Committee will select partner families. This process includes home visits, interviews, and discussions of need. The timeline of this process depends on the number of applicants for a particular home.

Once a family is selected, they will be connected with a member of the Family Support Committee. They will create a plan for the family to complete their sweat equity hours. This person can help families with any questions throughout the process.

Once the family’s sweat equity hours and the house are both complete, Green Mountain Habitat will schedule the home dedication and closing. After those two events, the family receives the keys and they move in!

The cost of land, materials, and infrastructure is very high. Because of this, we do our best to prioritize multi-bedroom homes. However, this does not mean that we will never build tiny homes or one-bedroom units. We are always reevaluating and investigating new designs, solutions, and opportunities. We encourage anyone who is eligible to apply for a home if they are in need of affordable housing!