---
title: Groundbreaking for A New Home for Habitat
description: Ceremony represents new direction in affordable housing
---

[Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Blog ](https://www.tchabitat.org/blog)

# [Groundbreaking for A New Home for Habitat](https://www.tchabitat.org/blog/groundbreaking-for-a-new-home-for-habitat)

 Written by [matt haugen](https://www.tchabitat.org/blog/author/matt-haugen) | 1:18 AM on May 9, 2013

**Ceremony represents new direction in affordable housing**

The beautiful new building will be an iconic community landmark on the new Central Corridor Green Line when it opens in 2014.

**Details: **Thursday, May 9 at 11am at 1954 University Ave. in St. Paul 55104 (intersection of Prior Ave. and University Ave.)

**Background:** Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will join Twin Cities Habitat CEO and President Susan Haigh and other dignitaries in a groundbreaking ceremony for Habitat’s highly-visible New Home. The building, which will be just steps from a stop on the new Green Line, will allow Twin Cities Habitat to serve tens of thousands of local families with its programs and services in the coming decades.

**Media contacts**: Patrick Dunn, Communications Associate for Twin Cities Habitat 

Speakers at the ceremony will include:

- **Susan Haigh**, President and CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
- **Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman**
- **Mary Lynn Staley**, Member of the Habitat for Humanity International Board of Directors
- **Rick Beeson**, Executive Vice President for Corporate Development and Government Relations at Sunrise Banks
- **Norm Baer**, Chairman of the Twin Cities Habitat Board of Directors

**Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Facts:**

- Twin Cities Habitat was established in 1985 and finished its first home in 1986.
- More than 950 families have purchased Twin Cities Habitat homes built by volunteers.
- Homebuyers mortgage payments to Twin Cities Habitat help fund more homes.
- Habitat homebuyers must do 300-500 hours of “sweat equity” before buying their home.
- Habitat homebuyers complete courses on things like budgeting and home maintenance. This thorough training has helped bring Twin Cities Habitat’s foreclosure rate below 1%.
- Twin Cities Habitat volunteers build or rehab between 50 and 60 homes each year.
- More than 1,500 low-income families have been served by volunteers through Twin Cities Habitat’s *A Brush with Kindness* home repair program since it was started in 1998.
- Twin Cities Habitat’s *Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program* has served more than 5,000 homeowners since it was started in 1993.
- The *Habitat ReStore* in New Brighton sells donated building materials and home improvement supplies to the public at deep discounts. Sales help fund Habitat projects and keep usable items out of landfills.
- More than 17,000 people volunteer with Twin Cities Habitat each year.
- More than 7,000 individuals, congregations, corporations and foundations donate to Twin Cities Habitat’s mission each year.

**About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity**

Our mission is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. An award-winning nonprofit housing developer, Twin Cities Habitat is committed to building the quality of life, health and economic prosperity of the region by producing, preserving and advocating for affordable homeownership – because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities. [www.tchabitat.org](https://www.tchabitat.org/)

[View full post](https://www.tchabitat.org/blog/groundbreaking-for-a-new-home-for-habitat)

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