Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

“This project is truly a product of our entire community,” said Kim Vohs, IOCP’s Housing Director. “The volunteers who provided labor and local donors made it happen. Thanks to their commitment, four families who otherwise could not live here will have affordable housing in this community.”

“Partnerships like the one led by Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners play a critical role in providing affordable housing opportunities,” said Susan Haigh, President of TCHFH.  “Suburban poverty is on the rise, and it’s important that families in all corners of the metropolitan area have access to safe, decent and affordable homes.”

The need for affordable housing in the suburbs is tremendous.  According to a recent Brookings Institute report, "by 2005, the suburban poor outnumbered their city counterparts by at least 1 million."  Over the next three years, TCHFH is focusing more new home construction in fast growing suburban regions where low-income families will have access to employment opportunities, transportation, schools, and other public amenities like parks and trails.  IOCP offers a range of outreach services to support suburban poor in the Twin Cities west metro.

The ceremony is open to the public. Among the speakers will be U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad, City of Wayzata Mayor Andrew Humphrey, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity President Susan Haigh, and IOCP Executive Director LaDonna Hoy. After the ceremony, the new occupants will provide food, and tours of the units will be available. There will also be a special presentation for the families moving in. Rachel Poss, a 10-year-old neighbor, coordinated gift baskets for each of the families as part of a school service project. Girl Scout Troop No. 1879 is also providing housewarming gifts.

Village Homes Development

Village Homes was built as two twin homes. Each twin home has a 3-bedroom and a 4-bedroom unit. Two of the units will be sold, and two rented to low-income families in need of safe, decent and affordable housing. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity will issue zero percent mortgages to the two families who purchase the units in one of the twin homes. To qualify, families must make between 30-50 percent of the area median income, have the ability to repay the zero percent mortgage, and must complete 300-500 hours of sweat equity in the building of their, or other, Twin Cities Habitat homes.  IOCP owns the other twin home and rents those two units to clients who have been receiving housing assistance for more than six months.

The Wayzata Housing & Redevelopment Authority contributed $250,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to the Village Homes project. Hennepin County’s Affordable Housing Incentive Fund designated $195,000 for the development. Lead development sponsor for the project was Ray and Debi Lipkin, and Cargill was a cornerstone house sponsor.  From money raised through its annual Sleep Out event, IOCP contributed $50,000.  Dozens of area churches, businesses, schools and civic groups helped sponsor the project and provided hundreds of volunteers that helped with construction.

About Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP)

The mission of IOCP is to identify and respond to the basic unmet needs of people in the communities they serve, and to assist them in moving toward self-sufficiency. IOCP offers financial and material assistance with housing, food, transportation, child care, and other basic needs. IOCP also provides case management and employment counseling, along with information, advocacy and connections to community resources. Partnerships with area businesses, faith communities, schools, health systems, civic and community groups, and government agencies have allowed IOCP to leverage the best possible outcomes for clients.  For more information, visit www.iocp.org

About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH)

The mission of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. Volunteer labor, donated materials and contributed funds are used to build and renovate homes in the Twin Cities area. Working under the faith-based principle that no profit should be gained from assisting those in need, Habitat for Humanity charges no interest on the mortgages that it issues to homebuyers. Families who purchase Habitat homes are selected based on need, ability to repay the zero percent mortgage, and willingness to partner.  Families put in 300-500 hours of "sweat equity" helping to build Habitat homes.  Since 1985, TCHFH has built over 650 homes in the seven-county metro area and engages more than 20,000 volunteers a year.  For more information, visit www.tchabitat.org.

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