"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"
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Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 5:21:43, Jun 12th 2013 - johnnyb - a pinto? i thought first a piano. ... [Read More]
- 7:04:12, Jun 11th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Response to Bruce Kaskubar: And I--in of course choosing not to ar ... [Read More]
- 11:46:57, Jun 11th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Excellent commentary--Thank you Ms. Reisner! ... [Read More]
- 5:02:49, Jun 10th 2013 - Bruce Kaskubar - Frank, History tells me that arguing with you is pointless so I put ... [Read More]
- 11:42:58, Jun 3rd 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Colonel Stan's twisted, conservative "genius" is to see every poten ... [Read More]
- 1:58:25, May 30th 2013 - Garden happy - This should be a great event for all ages!! I can't wait. ... [Read More]
- 11:30:35, May 29th 2013 - - Good job, Kaylee! ... [Read More]
- 5:36:49, May 15th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Though I hated to see you reference Glenn Beck by name [Three Times ... [Read More]
- 11:42:07, May 10th 2013 - yenken - I feel very sorry for those who have commented do far, as when you stand fa ... [Read More]
- 12:10:25, Apr 26th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Mr. "Cabtrom's" garbage-out[burst]--in response to Ms. Reisner's w ... [Read More]
33
Do you think the use of all fireworks should be legal in the state of Minnesota for all consumers?
Habitat for Humanity providing positive impact
Mon, Jan 7th, 2013
Posted in Rochester Home & Garden
Posted in Rochester Home & Garden
Comments
Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity volunteers are working on a home in Rochester. Photo by Bill Lisser
As Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota celebrates its 2000th house, the Rochester Area branch keeps improving the quality of life for people in Olmsted County. The local group has partnered with 68 families to provide a quality home since 1990. Currently, they are working on a home in Southwest Rochester. The family plans on being in the home this spring.
But Habitat for Humanity offers more than just a building. They offer training programs to help the family become educated home owners. The family selected has a big part in the construction of the house, also. They participate from the planning stage to move in. They work side-by-side with the volunteers on the construction site. “The family has to be willing to be a partner,” said Kevin Worden, Executive Director for the Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity. “They have to be able to delay gratification and put in many hours of effort before they see the payoff.”
The family needs to meet three criteria to be considered for a home from Habitat for Humanity.
1. A need for a better house.
2. The family must have the ability to make a mortgage payment.
3. The family must be willing to partner with habitat for Humanity.
The family fills out an application and goes through a screening process. A committee of volunteers visits the families and makes a recommendation to the board of directors. The board of directors approves the final selection and sets the cost of the home. The family is provided with a lower cost mortgage payment because most of the work is being done by volunteers and a 0 percent interest mortgage. They add to the economy by paying property taxes. Electrical, plumbing and heating are contracted out. “We meet with the people,” said Dan Sucher a volunteer and retired IBM engineer. “We have the lot, we meet with the people and we make it work.”
The organization uses donations and funds from other family mortgages for the construction costs. “91 percent of donated funds go to construction and home owner classes,” Worden said. Families reported improved health, greater educational attainment, improved job prospects, decreased dependency on welfare programs and a greater connection to family and the community. “Habitat partner families experienced a 40 percent reduction in use of government assistance programs,” said Worden.
If you want to volunteer but consider yourself a “Tim the Toolman” type of person, there are many ways to get involved. You don’t have to be handy with a hammer to volunteer at the construction site or you could volunteer for a selection committee. “We value the volunteer’s time and match the amount of volunteers to the amount of work taking place for the day,” Worden said.
But Habitat for Humanity offers more than just a building. They offer training programs to help the family become educated home owners. The family selected has a big part in the construction of the house, also. They participate from the planning stage to move in. They work side-by-side with the volunteers on the construction site. “The family has to be willing to be a partner,” said Kevin Worden, Executive Director for the Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity. “They have to be able to delay gratification and put in many hours of effort before they see the payoff.”
The family needs to meet three criteria to be considered for a home from Habitat for Humanity.
1. A need for a better house.
2. The family must have the ability to make a mortgage payment.
3. The family must be willing to partner with habitat for Humanity.
The family fills out an application and goes through a screening process. A committee of volunteers visits the families and makes a recommendation to the board of directors. The board of directors approves the final selection and sets the cost of the home. The family is provided with a lower cost mortgage payment because most of the work is being done by volunteers and a 0 percent interest mortgage. They add to the economy by paying property taxes. Electrical, plumbing and heating are contracted out. “We meet with the people,” said Dan Sucher a volunteer and retired IBM engineer. “We have the lot, we meet with the people and we make it work.”
The organization uses donations and funds from other family mortgages for the construction costs. “91 percent of donated funds go to construction and home owner classes,” Worden said. Families reported improved health, greater educational attainment, improved job prospects, decreased dependency on welfare programs and a greater connection to family and the community. “Habitat partner families experienced a 40 percent reduction in use of government assistance programs,” said Worden.
If you want to volunteer but consider yourself a “Tim the Toolman” type of person, there are many ways to get involved. You don’t have to be handy with a hammer to volunteer at the construction site or you could volunteer for a selection committee. “We value the volunteer’s time and match the amount of volunteers to the amount of work taking place for the day,” Worden said.
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