THERE ARE OVER 10,000 FAMILIES IN OUR METRO AREA THAT

spend more than 50% of their income on housing,” he explains. “On top of the nancial hardship, o en that housing is substandard and/or overcrowded. Many of these people are just one issue — a car repair, medical bill, reduced work hours — from being homeless.” LAHFH seeks to help meet this challenge by building simple, decent and a ordable homes in a partnership with those in need.

Habitat families must show a need, the willingness to partner and the ability to a ord a mortgage, Christopher says. The rst step is identifying those who might qualify. Usually, LAHFH gets around 50-75 home applications per year, with 15-20 qualifying for the program. “Unfortunately,” he says, “we can only a ord four homes this year.” The willingness to partner component means that each adult must complete at least 250 hours in helping build their own home, working on other homes or helping in the ReStore. The quali ed applicants must also show an ability to repay an income-based mortgage. Their payments, along with donations, help build future homes.

“Families come to us with little hope for the future — they’re not sure how to break the day-to-day cycle,” Christopher says. “When we teach them how to build a wall in their home, it helps them gain con dence and renewed hope. Their ‘sweat equity’ replaces a typical down payment on a home, so it becomes more affordable for them, while giving them a personal stake in the process.” One of the added bene ts of partnering with LAHFH is the training provided to each new homeowner. “We know that being a successful homeowner is more than having a home,” he explains, “so part of their partnership is completing classes we provide in nance, how to maintain their home, car and yard, take care of pets, and more.” Those classes are also open to the individuals who may not have made the nal cut for a new home.

LAHFH is celebrating their 30th anniversary as a nonpro t, ecumenical, Christian housing ministry in Cass and Clay counties. As a nonpro t, their primary sources of income are from individual, church and business contributions, Christopher says. “Funding is our biggest need,” he stresses. “Each home costs about $160,000 to build. We build about four each year, but we could build as many as we could fund.” Not only are funds needed, but volunteers who want to help build are also essential, since about 200 volunteers work on each home, he says, providing over 4,000 hours of donated time.

“For 2021, there’s a home project scheduled in Moorhead, Fargo, Dilworth and West Fargo,” he says. “There will be a ‘Faith Build,’ which is a partnership with Thrivent and area churches; a ‘CEO Build’ with 16 community leaders who have joined forces to build a home; a ‘30th Anniversary Build’ celebrating our 30 years in the community; and a ‘Women Build’ where LAHFH hopes to have mostly women volunteers.” Over the years, LAHFH has built 65 homes in the community, Christopher says, as part of the Habitat for Humanity International organization.

One of the key resources of LAHFH is the Restore at 210 11th St. N. in Moorhead. “The Restore is a huge asset to the community and our mission,” Christopher says. “It’s a place where contractors and homeowners can donate their new and used building materials. We sell those items at a reduced rate, which helps people in the community a ordably improve their homes and helps fund our mission. It also helps keep over 1.5 million pounds out of the land ll each year, which is a signi cant environmental bene t.” One additional service the Restore offers is a deconstruction program. “We’ll come and get the cabinets o the wall, or clear out ood buyout homes, or remove the used o ce furniture.” he says. “Just give us a call.”

Thanks to hundreds of volunteers, Restore donations and shoppers, donors across the region, corporate and individual partners, LAHFH is able to help families build a new future in the community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to donate, please contact lakeagassizhabitat.org.