Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Rena Sarigianopoulos
KARE-11

June 19, 2006

Habitat for Humanity is starting a new project in North Minneapolis. It is on the Historic site of the Ripley Maternity Hospital and the project itself is making a bit of history in the process.

The rising cost of property has forced Habitat to do business differently. Ripley Gardens will be one of the first multi-unit projects for Habitat for Humanity. Eight townhomes will be built on the grounds and through a partnership with the Central Community Housing Trust, there will be 52 affordable rentals at the site as well.

The project will also have thousands of volunteers before it is complete many of whom will be women. A program called WomenBuild teaches women the construction trade and then helps them to find jobs.

Multi-unit housing allows Habitat for Humanity to help more families on a single property and the organization's director says it is the way of the future even for projects in the suburbs.

Families must still put three to five-hundred hours of sweat equity into the homes before they get the keys. Click here to view the story on KARE11.com: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=127401