Dedication celebrates the completion of another Habitat Home
Homebuyers Dan and Amy Johnson and their twin sons: Landon and Logan are excited to live in a new home they purchased and helped rehab along with the support from area Habitat for Humanity volunteers and subcontractors. The dedication of the newest Habitat for Humanity home in Douglas County was held on July 29, 2009 at 5 pm. The dedication was attended by a house packed with construction volunteers, committee members and other volunteers, donors, the board of directors, and the Johnson family, friends and co-workers. John Loken, Volunteer Construction Manager, presented the family with a new bible and said, “This bible is an operations manual for living and will complement the other operation manuals you have received for operating the appliances and heating system in your new home.”
In response, Dan, said, “We are so thankful for our new home and thank all the volunteers who helped with the home. We are looking forward to moving in and making this house a home.”
The building of this Habitat home was made possible by a large number of volunteers from area churches, businesses and the community. Quilts were presented to the family from Lakes Area Quilters Quild and members of Grace Church in Alexandria.
In addition to building local homes, Habitat for Humanity participates in the “House for a House Tithe Program” and contributes 10% of unrestricted funds to build homes in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lori Anderson, Executive Director, states, “Our efforts reach far beyond this community, by participating in the tithe program we have helped Habitat for Humanity International build homes for 23 families living in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is exciting to think about how many lives can be affected when we share our blessings.”
Families are selected by a family selection committee based on three established criteria: need for housing, ability to partner with Habitat and ability to pay. Habitat is not a hand-out; it is a hand-up. Partner families purchase homes from Habitat with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages, and each adult in the family agrees to contribute 200 sweat equity hours in home construction or other promotional events.
Dwaine and Judy Berger, the Johnson family mentors, partnered with the family to plan sweat equity hours during the construction of the home and will work with the family for one year after moving in to ensure a smooth transition to home ownership.
The affiliate is accepting applications now for future homes in Douglas County. ..