Tag Archives: Home Dedication

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Dedicates Home Builders Care Build

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April Nelson with her children on the day the first wall went up on her future home.

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and Home Builders Care Foundation will hand a new homeowner their house keys for the first time at tonight’s Home Builders Care Build with Habitat Dedication. At 5:30 pm, volunteers, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity representatives, Home Builders Association representatives and members, Home Builders Care Foundation representatives, and, of course, the excited partner family will gather at 902 27th Street North in Fargo to honor the hard work, the generous financial backing and the community support that made this home possible.

The homebuyers—April Nelson and her children Blake and Brooke—are more than a little eager to move into their new home.  They have completed more than 250 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build the home, a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity.  They will repay the no-profit mortgage over a period of 30 years, illustrating Habitat for Humanity’s objective to give families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.

“It is amazing. One of my biggest dreams has been to own my house. We have had to move so much. My daughter has been in five different schools,” April Nelson says. “I can’t wait to move in to my house!”

The Nelson Family on the steps of their new North Fargo home.

This new home is a result of a partnership between Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and the charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead- the Home Builders Care Foundation of Fargo Moorhead.  Called the Home Builders Care Build with Habitat, this build was made possible thanks to generous donations of materials, funds, and labor from Home Builders Association members as well as countless volunteers from our community. Many of these volunteers were able to work alongside the new homeowner as April Nelson contributed her “sweat equity” hours.

“If it weren’t for the [Home Builders Association] members and Habitat, I would have never been able to buy a home,” Nelson shares. “I would like to thank the members and volunteers and donors so much. This means the world to my kids and me.”

You’re invited to join the Nelson Family and Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity at the dedication.

When: Monday, October 15th at 5:30 pm

Where: Home Builders Care Home: 902 27th Street North, Fargo

Meet the Nelson Family

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April Nelson has never owned a home. In fact, she and her children briefly lived in a Grand Forks women’s shelter to escape a violent relationship. The Home Builders Care Build with Habitat will help provide some stability that has been lacking in their lives the past few years.

Originally from Warren, Minn., Nelson moved to Grand Forks, got married and had two children. Five years ago, she divorced her husband and became involved with an abusive man. The relationship spiraled out of control and into a regular pattern of domestic violence.

“We lived in a shelter in 2009, which was right before I moved to Moorhead. I either had to leave that relationship or lose my kids. Social services had been called because of the violence, and I didn’t want my kids in that anymore anyway,” she says.

Today, Nelson lives in a rented Moorhead townhome with daughter Brooke, age 10, and son Blake, age 6. She has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and depression, her daughter suffers from anxiety and her son has ADHD, anxiety and cerebral palsy. Nelson says some of the mental health issues are lingering after-effects of the domestic violence they suffered.

Nelson Family

April Nelson with Brooke and Blake on the build site for their new home.

Nelson learned about Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity through Lakes & Prairie Community Action Partnership last year and sent in an application.“I never dreamed that they would actually call me!” she laughs.

But that’s exactly what happened. Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity called Nelson and the process for helping her achieve homeownership began early this year.  Nelson has been working alongside members of the Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead, the Home Builder Care Foundation and volunteers from the community all summer to make her dream a reality.  On Monday, September 24th at 5:30 pm Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the Nelson Family’s new home.

The home will be handicap-accessible to help accommodate her son’s disability. In a few years, doctors say he will be a candidate for surgery called dorsal rhizotomy to help increase elasticity in his legs, but the procedure will leave him wheelchair-bound for about one year.

“It is amazing. One of my biggest dreams has been to own my house. We have had to move so much. My daughter has been in five different schools,” she says. “I can’t wait to move in to my house!”

Like all families that partner with Habitat for Humanity, Nelson will not receive a “free” home, but instead will purchase the home with an interest-free loan to be repaid over the course of the mortgage. Nelson has contributed more than 250 “sweat equity” hours working on her home, the homes of others and in the Habitat ReStore as a requirement for becoming a Habitat homeowner. She is also required to attend 20 educational classes to learn about topics such as homeownership budgeting, home maintenance and home safety.

Nelson expresses thanks for the Habitat program, Home Builders Care Foundation and the HBA of F-M, “If it weren’t for the help from your members and Habitat, I would have never been able to buy a home. I would like to thank your members so much. This means the world to my kids and me.”

You’re invited to join the Nelson Family and Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity at the dedication.

When: Monday, September 24th at 5:30 pm

Where: Home Builders Care Home: 902 27th Street North, Fargo

Habitat Names Rob Rich Executive Director

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Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity named Rob Rich the organization’s new Executive Director.  Rich has served as the organization’s Construction Manager since 2008.

“Rob is committed to Habitat’s mission of building homes, hope and community,” said Leann Wolff, President of Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors.  “Rob brings years of experience in construction and working closely with volunteers.  He is an asset to the organization and will lead Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity to build more homes and serve more families in our community.”

“Habitat is a remarkable organization and I have enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with our Partner Families and countless volunteers from the community who make Habitat for Humanity possible,” said Rob Rich, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Executive Director.  “I look forward to building on the success of this organization and addressing the need for affordable housing in our community.”

The organization also announced their plans to build 2 homes in Fargo during their 2012 build season.  The first is a single family home sponsored by the Home Builders Care Foundation of Fargo Moorhead.  This is the first time the organization will serve as the primary sponsor of a Habitat for Humanity home.  The second is a single family home sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  This will mark the 12th home built by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity as part of the Thrivent Builds program.

Welcome Home Brackins & Melvin Families!

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West Fargo Twin Home

West Fargo Twin Home

With each home we build, we celebrate the day a new partner family gets to move in. We reflect on the relationship we’ve formed with the family and pray for their well-being. Today, Monday, February 27th, is an especially exciting day, as we welcome two partner families into a new duplex.

You’re invited to join LAHFH for the West Fargo Twin Home Dedication tonight at 5:30 p.m.  The brief ceremony will take place at the duplex, which is located at 405/409 Morrison Street in West Fargo. It would mean a lot to the Brackins family, Melvin family, and our organization to see you there.

Brackins Family

Tonette Brackins and her children on the build site for their new home.

“I am so thankful for all the work volunteers have done to make my new home possible- it’s been a blessing to work alongside them,” said new homeowner Tonette Brackins.  “My children and I are looking forward to moving in to our new home and can’t wait to get our keys tonight!”

“We are so excited to be moving to a stable, livable home with a great new neighbor,” said new homeowner Jessica Melvin.  “I have enjoyed working with Habitat and am so glad that they have given me the opportunity to provide this home for my children.”

 

Jessica Melvin and family at the wall raising celebration for the West Fargo Twin Home

The Brackins and Melvin families, like all families that partner with Habitat for Humanity, will not be receiving free homes, but instead will be purchasing the homes with a 0% interest free loan that will be repaid over the course of the mortgage. Both Tonette and Jessica contributed 250 “sweat equity” hours working on their homes and the homes of others as a requirement for becoming a Habitat homeowner.  They were also required to attend 20 educational classes to learn about topics such as homeownership budgeting, home maintenance, and home safety.

At the dedication, there will be a short program where Leann Wolff, LAHFH Board President, will speak.  Grace Backman from Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance, a major sponsor, and the new homeowners will also be available for comments.

Of course, none of this would be possible without our faithful supporters. So thanks again for all of your help, and we look forward to working with you again when the 2012 build season kicks off!

When: Monday, February 27th at 5:30 pm

Where: West Fargo Twin Home: 405/409 Morrison Street, West Fargo

 

Thrivent Build Home Complete!

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Today will be an exciting day in Fargo, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the 2011 Thrivent Build Home.  At 5:30pm this afternoon, the future homeowners, the Bichler family, will gather with representatives from Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, donors, volunteers, and friends to celebrate the completion of their future home.  The Bichler’s future home marks the 3rd home completed by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity as part of the organization’s 2011 Build Season.

Partner Family

The Bichler family stands in front of their future home- built in partnership with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The Bichler family is eager to move into their new home.  Jennelle Bichler is a single mother of three children with special needs.  In 2005, Jennelle was in the process of adopting her daughter when she was diagnosed with 2 rare conditions which caused her to lose her sight.  She became completely blind days after daughter’s adoption was finalized. 

“It is an honor to partner with a family like the Bichlers to build a home,” said Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Shirley Dykshoorn. “Jennelle is such a strong woman who has been through a great deal. She truly deserves a place for her and her children to call their own.”

The Bichler family, like all families that partner with Habitat for Humanity, will not be receiving a free home, but instead will be purchasing the home with a 0% interest free loan that will be repaid over the course of the mortgage. Jennelle contributed more than 250 “sweat equity” hours working on her home and the homes of others as a requirement for becoming a Habitat homeowner.

The home was built as part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International, known as Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.  Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people who lack decent shelter, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Since 2005 Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has constructed nearly 2,500 homes worldwide, with the most recent Thrivent Build home right here in Fargo. 

Thrivent Wall Raising 2011

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans representatives and the future homeowners raise a wall on the 2011 Thrivent Builds home in July.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has been partnering with the local Habitat affiliate since 2004. During this year’s build, all of Fargo’s financial representatives participated in the build, including Steve Oakes, Steve Asche, Al Fabricius, Paul Holtan, Carla Braaten, Shad Connor, Bruce Saum and Todd Schaffer.

At the dedication, there will be a short program where Shirley Dykshoorn, LAHFH Executive Director.  Jennelle Bichler, the new homeowner, as well as representatives from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be available for comments.

If you’re interested in attending the Thrivent Build home dedication:

Where: 1205 2nd Ave South in Fargo

When: 5:30pm on Monday, November 14, 2011

For more information on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity visit: www.lakeagassizhabitat.org

For more information on Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity visit: www.thriventbuilds.com

For more information on Thrivent Financial for Lutherans visit: www.thrivent.com

Habitat for Humanity Women Build: Women Empowering Women

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Today will be an exciting day in West Fargo, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the Women Build Home.  At 5:30pm this afternoon, the future homeowners, the Hamilton family, will gather with representatives from Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, the Women Build planning committee, donors, volunteers, and friends to celebrate the completion of their future home.

Dedication ceremonies are always exciting, but as the 2011 Women Build Home, this home is different.  Women Build is a program through Habitat for Humanity International with the mission to bring together women from all walks of life to address the housing crisis facing millions of women and children worldwide.

LAHFH Women Build volunteers

Volunteers flex their muscles at LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build site.

The Women Build program started in 1991 with a group of women in Charlotte, North Carolina who completed the first women-built Habitat for Humanity house. With this event, the seeds for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program were planted and became an official Habitat for Humanity International initiative in 1998.  In 2007, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity completed the first local Women Build project by building a twin home in South Fargo.

Women Build believes that decent, affordable housing is not a feminist issue.  It is a quality of life and basic human dignity issue facing families everywhere.  Women Build is about empowering women to take action against poverty housing conditions.

North Dakota First Lady volunteering with Women Build

North Dakota’s First Lady, Betsy Dalrymple, lends a helping hand on LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build.

Women Build is not about excluding men.  It is about including women and opening new doors of opportunity.  Men are often involved in training programs and build projects in supportive roles.

Women Build events have helped to construct more than 1,900 houses worldwide, with the most recent Women Build home right here in West Fargo.  The West Fargo Women Build home was built by over 150 local women who rolled up their sleeves and offered their service to help a local family realize a dream of affordable homeownership.  The build was planned and organized by an all women committee of volunteers.  The home is the 4th Women Build home completed by the local affiliate and second home completed by the organization in 2011.

Even though construction on the Women Build project is complete, you can still support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. The local Women Build would not succeed without donations and the committee welcomes any and all donations from you and/or your organization. To invest your valuable time and energy, you can check the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity website for work days on other build sites. To support Women Build financially, visit the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity website or contact us via phone or email.  Check with your employer to see if they have a matching donations policy.

Women Build Partner Family on the build site.

If you’re interested in attending the Women Build home dedication:

Where: 326 6th Ave. W. in West Fargo

When: 5:30pm Monday, September 26, 2011

 

For more information on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity visit: www.lakeagassizhabitat.org

For more information on Women Build visit: http://www.habitat.org/wb/