Habitat for Humanity's Collegiate Challenge

Possessing nearly three decades of industry experience, Dean Buescher has held the role of manager of Vintage Estate Homes in New Braunfels, Texas, since 2014. Aside from his professional work, Dean Buescher has built two homes for Habitat for Humanity. 

A nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity aims to end homelessness by building homes for those in need around the world. One of Habitat for Humanity’s programs is the Collegiate Challenge, an alternative-break program.

Through the Collegiate Challenge, groups of five or more individuals aged 16 to 25 work together on building projects. Some groups consist of individuals from the same church or school, while others are groups of friends who want to make a difference together.

Each group chooses a team captain, who selects a location and work week from the list on Habitat for Humanity’s website. The team leader then register’s the team for the trip. 

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s alternative-break program, visit www.habitat.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-alternative-break-trips.

Advocacy Efforts of Habitat For Humanity Texas

An independent consultant since 2009, Dean Buescher uses his more than 30 years of experience to assist home builders with planning, zoning, feasibility, and other essential services. Dean Buescher has supported numerous charities with construction projects, including Habitat for Humanity in Texas.

The 2014, the State Low Income Housing Plan produced by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) indicated that 40 per cent of households in the state fall into the low-income range. As such, Habitat Texas prepared its legislative agenda for the 2015 legislative session. Created by members of Habitat for Humanity during the preceding annual conference, the agenda outlined the organization’s dedication to three important missions:

1. Protection of the TDHCA Texas Bootstrap Loan Program, which was designed to help families build and own their own home - similar to the Habitat for Humanity goals.

2. The reinvestment of mortgage payments back into this program, enabling their continuation. Habitat asked the legislature to allow these repayments to augment the existing $3 million budget of the Bootstrap Loan Program, helping it to fund more families in need.

3. The support of recipients of Habitat for Humanity homes by confirming they are not required to pay property taxes for the first ten years of their residency. This was requested based on the fact that Habitat homes increase property values and therefore local tax income.