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Door County Habitat for Humanity Makes a Difference - One Family at a Time
By Steve Allen - Sponsored by Lakeshore Motorsports LLC
Sep 7, 2011 - 9:00:00 AM
The latest Habitat home under construction in Sturgeon Bay.
Door County is fortunate to have an army of volunteers that make things happen for myriad non-profit organizations in the area. But there's just one where scads of volunteers invest about 3,000 collective hours of their own time into the construction of a home for a family that might otherwise never own one.
At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Door County North, which meets every Wednesday for breakfast at the Cornerstone Pub in Baileys Harbor, Door Habitat's Executive Director Rick Nelson told the wonderful story. Indeed, this organization is very successful at what it does for people. "We're not a charity," explained Nelson candidly. "The people that get the home put in about 200 hours of their own sweat equity."
Door Habitat's Executive Director Rick Nelson addresses Rotary Club of Door County North.
The new homeowner also takes out a mortgage directly with Habitat, and is expected to make regular payments, although he or she enjoys a zero percent interest rate, making the home affordable. To qualify for a Habitat project and end up with a home, applicants must be able to help build it, and their family income needs to be below 60% of the local median family income. "Volunteer labor keeps our costs way down", according to Nelson.
Volunteers make it all happen.
As shown in the photos, these are not extravagant homes. In fact, they are simple and small at about 1,000 square feet. All the homes built are Energy Star-rated, and the total cost is around $90,000. "They are very well-built", emphasized Nelson. Plumbing, electrical, etc. work is subcontracted out, but talented volunteers do the basic building. Some volunteers who are not able to work with tools become very important to each project. They prepare or pick up the lunch and bring it to the job site.
At the international level, Habitat for Humanity builds home overseas with volunteers from all over our country. Many have been built in Honduras in past years, and two Door County volunteers have participated in these builds.
Habitat has other initiatives in Door County. The ReStore opened late in 2009 on 14th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. Here one can find all sorts of home furnishing treasures at affordable prices. Donations are accepted, and the organization even has a truck to pick up larger items that local residents no longer need. Recycling of electronic items is a growing program, and all that is required is a small donation per item.
"A Brush with Kindness" helps
elderly, handicapped, and poor folks fix up their homes. Typical
projects include re-roofing houses, building wheelchair ramps,
scraping and painting home exteriors, and doing necessary minor
repairs. The organization also trains women to be proficient at construction skills through its "Women Build" initiative. In this way, both women and men can actively participate in home builds. Door County Habitat for Humanity's 2011 Art.i.tat
event will be held on Saturday, October 1st from 7:00-9:00 pm
at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor. Art.i.tat
is a silent auction of unique ReStore items repurposed by Door
County artists. Tickets to the event are $20 each, and allow the
bearer to bid on over twenty "recycled" art pieces. Refreshments of
coffee, wine, and desserts from local restaurants will be served.
All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit Door County Habitat
for Humanity's affordable housing programs.Habitat for Humanity is a registered 501(c)3 and your donation is tax-deductible.
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