Flatirons Habitat for Humanity Breaking Ground!

[Flatirons Habitat for Humanity]

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground in Northfield Village Building Houses, Building Hope and Transforming Lives.

On Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 2 p.m. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity dedicated their new Northfield Village construction site, on which they will build two 4-unit townhouse buildings. The affiliate took this opportunity to introduce the community to the families who will live in the first building. These families will construct their homes, along with hundreds of Habitat volunteers. Each family helped with the “groundbreaking” ceremony using a golden shovel to turn the earth at the site. “Owning a Habitat home gives my family stability and the feeling of accomplishment that you get when you have something that you only dare to dream.” said Leticia Aguilera. “A Habitat home is like no other home, it’s built with compassion, by the community”.

“It’s great to be starting our next project, so quickly after the completion of our 50th home”, said John Lovell, Executive Director, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. “Our goal is to have these families in their new homes by the beginning of the summer.”

Flatirons Habitat also recognized the sponsors who have already pledged their support for this project. One unit in the first building will be funded through an Apostles Build, in which twelve area congregations will partner together to share the cost and labor needed to build the home. Clergy representing the congregations that have already joined the project officiated during the dedication ceremony. This event coincided with the annual International Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat. The dedication ceremony culminated Building on Faith Week, during which Habitat affiliates nationwide celebrate their partnerships with the faith community.

About Flatirons Habitat for Humanity:
Flatirons Habitat for Humanity is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Its goal is to transform lives and communities by building simple, energy-efficient, affordable homes for low-income families living in Boulder Valley and Broomfield communities. The affiliate, founded in 1993, has built 50 homes in Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, and Superior. It has also built 93 homes internationally through its tithe to Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat believes in a “hand up, not a hand out” philosophy. Habitat homeowners invest 225 hours per adult family member of their own labor — called sweat equity — into building their Habitat home and the homes of others. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at zero profit with a zero percent interest mortgage. The families also receive training in homeownership, financial planning, and home maintenance. In addition, the “Getting Ahead” program offered by the Flatirons affiliate helps break the cycle of poverty by working with families to develop a plan for sustainable change. Graduates are then surrounded by community volunteer mentors trained by Habitat.

Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than one million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. The most recent City of Boulder housing needs assessment indicates 10,734 families have unmet housing needs in Boulder. These families are paying more that 30% of their income on housing expenses, living in overcrowded conditions or living in substandard housing.

Please contact Derek Wittman for more information, 303-447-3787 ext: 230 or email
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Photos taken by Helen McGrath.