Volunteers raise the walls for a Habitat for Humanity house in Brandon. It was partly supported by the Habitat 500, a group of bicyclists who raise money for Habitat and pause to help build. Echo Press file photo
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY 1211 N. NOKOMIS ST. NE ALEXANDRIA, MN 320-762-4255 hfhdouglascounty.org
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abitat for Humanity of Douglas County has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1997.
It has served 118 local families by building or renovating 79 houses and completing 39 Aging in Place projects. Habitat has built or repaired homes in nine Douglas County communities, serving 341 individuals.
In Douglas County, 1 in 4 households spend more than they can afford on housing, according to information from Sara Gronholz, community engagement coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County. “This forces them to make impossible choices between safe homes, nutritious food on the table, health care, or reliable transportation,” she said. At Habitat for Humanity, the belief is that everyone deserves to build the foundation for a stable, healthy future for themselves and their families – no matter
who they are, where they live or how much money they earn. “When the cost of a home is your family’s future, the cost is too high. And when the cost of a home is any family’s future, that’s something none of us can afford,” said Gronholz. “That’s why Habitat for Humanity is working to ensure that no family has to pay more than half of their paycheck to cover the cost of home.” Stable, affordable homeownership creates the conditions that free families from instability, stress, and
OUR HOME IS OUR FOREVER HOME. I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY IF I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD A RENT PAYMENT. OWNING THIS HOME HAS ENDED A LOT OF THE STRESS WE WERE FACING, LETTING US RELAX AND ENJOY ONE ANOTHER. Habitat for Humanity homeowner Habitat for Humanity construction manager Randy Hanson shows Brenton employees the blueprints for a home that they helped build. Echo Press file photo PAGE 60 | IMPACT 2021
