A group that gives a hand up needs a hand. Brainerd Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity needs help in its effort to help low income working families with housing. Currently, there are five families that are approved for a Habitat home. However, there’s a snag — funds are not available to build even one home.
Until the recession hit, Habitat for Humanity had provided 75 homes that provided shelter for 250 kids and 150 adults. Of those homes built, only one was foreclosed on during the economic downturn. That’s an amazing statistic when compared to the overall foreclosures in Minnesota and Crow Wing County.
The organization has not been standing still, waiting for its ship to come in. It opened a store where they sell recycled building materials salvaged from homes that were targeted for demolition.
With fund that had been flowing into the bank account of Habitat for Humanity being diverted to local food shelves, the organization is appealing to local business, foundations and individuals for help during this decline.
In addition to finding whatever resources available, the organization also cut its staff by three and reduced hours for the remaining staff.
When Habitat for Humanity was in full swing, those families designated for housing were asked to put 300 hours of sweat equity into the construction of their dwelling. In addition, they received training in budgeting, reading and understanding legal documents related to their property, and assumed the mortgage on their home at 0 percent interest
As our economy continues its climb out of the recession there are those businesses, foundations and individuals that might be in a position to offer financial assistance to one of the finest organizations that offers a helping hand to the area’s working poor.
It’s an opportunity to help others in our area.
—Keith Hansen
Comments (10)
Add commentKeith, let them afford housing
like the rest of the people. This notion that people who put "sweat equity" into basically a free home is asinine. What about those that bust their butts daily going to work, saving, planning to buy a home, while someone else with a sad sack story gets one handed to them? And who really pays for the home; thousands of volunteers and businesses, who them pass their "free" onto the consumers!!
Sorry ey if your mother thought you were a mistake
but comments like your's are what I would expect from a farmer on government subsidies.
ey, it is one thing to disagree with
another's views, but to bring one's family into the mix should be below you. I read in another post that Rich just lost his parents. Not funny on your part.
"let them afford housing like the rest of the people"?
"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
NIV Deuteronomy 15:11
Who is to say the Rich practises Christianity?
I see no where in his post above that he brought religion into the discussion, nor do I see that he said anything about anyone dying. As for you overly bloated, has nothing to do with the article, nor does it lend anything of worth to the conversation; let me remind you that if you want to sling mud about people's families or their birth, there is plenty to be said about you. Is what I really detect is obvious jealousy on your part. He has money and is young, and you have neither. Well I have a modest income myself, but I do see his point. And while I understand that they do not get the house for free (there is a mortgage), with what they end up paying in the end is very little. I also remember an article that read that HFH, while saddened by people losing their homes, at the same time felt it was great that they could get those same homes for cheap. Sounds like a pariah to me!!!
Many charitable organizations, and churches, are having
a difficult time dealing with the consequences of 30 yrs of growing income/wealth inequality in the U.S. Charity -- volunteer organizations -- all great; thanks, Keith, for giving one example of an overwhelmed charitable organization. I hope some of their needs are met as a result of your call to action.
Better yet, I hope more folks work toward creating an America with more equality of opportunity, and begin to rebuild our disintegrating middle class. We need to elect leaders who'll represent the interests of the many, not just the privileged few.
Eyolf, I appreciated what you had to say in your longer comment above. Yumbo
Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity (LAHFH)
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) partners with families that go through a selection process and must demonstrate 1) a need for housing (unsafe conditions, overcrowding, catastrophic reasons such as a fire or devestating medical conditions, are just a few examples); 2) Be working and demonstrate an income that allows them to assume a 0% mortgage (average earnings are typically 30-50% of the median income in our area, and 3) must show a willingness to partner with HFH. The partnership includes completing a training program on home construction, home maintenance, and homeownership, as well as contributing at least 300 hours of "sweat equity" on their home construction. Habitat is not a pariah that routinely buys up foreclosures or provides FREE homes, and comments made by uninformed people do harm to the program, the staff, the partner families, and the hundreds of people locally that have meaningful volunteer experiences through LAHFH. There are over 225 families on a waiting list in our community, simply waiting to be considered for an application - so the need is great and widespread. Habitat's founder Millard Fuller said "For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other." Fortunately for LAHFH and for other charities, civic groups and churches, many people still believe in the concept of service to others.If you don't share these values, that is your choice and your right. But don't be a hater.