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County residents come together to build Habitat for Humanity homes
Posted 10/20/00 by Laura Adelmann With the help of volunteers, the American dream is coming true in Burnsville. Workers and volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity are building a four-bedroom home for a single mother and her 13-year-old son. Another Habitat house is being constructed for another low-income family just nine blocks away. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Habitat for Humanity homes are beginning to spring up in Dakota County. The organization works with city officials to improve properties that are often not generating taxes because the cost of improvements would usually be cost prohibitive. Because of the work of dedicated volunteers and donations from organizations, churches and companies, the expense of reviving the property is made affordable. Prospective homeowners must have their own income ó receiving no public assistance. Those who qualify are usually employed but unable to afford the initial costs of home ownership. The homeowner must also dedicate 350 hours toward the construction of their home, adding another 50 hours of labor for every person that will be living in the home over the age of 14. Habitat for Humanity also works with a bank to arrange a 20-year mortgage for the person buying the home. Tom Wilkinson, of Woodbury, has been a Habitat for Humanity volunteer for four years. Last week he traveled to Burnsville to help on the Pleasant Lane home. ìThis is about as far (a distance) as Iíve ever gone,î he said. Wilkinson became involved with the organization after he retired. ìMy wife got tired of me sitting around the house in her way and I wanted to do something I thought was useful and I enjoy, so I tried this,î he said, noting there are many opportunities to sharpen his handyman skills. The volunteers need no prior experience and work under the guidance of a site supervisor, like Paul Landwehr of Farmington. Landwehr is employed by Habitat and is responsible for overseeing both Burnsville job sites. He is used to having several projects going at once and is never far from his cell phone. Between phone calls, Landwehr speaks highly of the volunteers. ìIt is so amazing,î he said. ìWe get all kinds of people and it just never ceases to amaze me who turns out to help. I have the most fun meeting people from all walks of life. Ö Everyone I talk to has a fascinating story.î Roy Nachtigal, of Eagan, worked for Habitat during his week-long vacation over the summer. When he retired at the end of September, he began working part time with Habitat. ìI really like construction work,î Nachtigal said. ìPlus itís for a good cause.î Nachtigalís work for Habitat for Humanity includes putting up walls, siding and shingles. Jack Lachenmayer, of Eagan, is retired and has been working for Habitat for two years. He said giving his time seemed much more valuable than simply writing a check. ìI really enjoy it. I enjoy seeing it go from digging a hole in the ground to the dedication,î he said. Not all the volunteers are retired, or even yet full fledged adults. Landwehr called the Americorps program, which pays students struggling in school a stipend for volunteer work, a vital reason why Habitat has been so successful. ìMost of the kids Ö involved (in Americorps) donít know what they want to do in school yet but they want to figure out other things in life,î said Landwehr. Every time a home is completed, the workers, sponsors and community leaders are invited to a ceremony recognizing the familyís new home. Lachenmayer said the ceremonies are very emotional. He recalled one family who said after 20 years of marriage, it was the first time they had the opportunity to move into their own home. ìIt was just so self satisfying for these people to be part of building their own home and finally moving into it,î Lachenmayer said. ìItís very rewarding, just to see that you can help somebody who is down on their luck get a foothold in a way that they can go on to a decent life,î agreed Wilkinson. For more information or to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, call (612) 331-4090, Ext. 613.
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