Minnesota Lawyer annually recognizes top attorneys for their achievements. We’re excited that our friends at Briggs and Morgan, Steve Ryan and Brian Corey, were named “Attorneys of the Year” for their work on behalf of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
For more than 25 years, the Neighborhood Development Alliance (NeDA) has been investing in the West Side of St. Paul – and across the Twin Cities – making it a better place to live. Whether it’s building affordable housing, providing wrap-around financial counseling, or connecting people to needed resources, NeDA is there. NeDA’s all about collaboration, and we’re very proud to partner with NeDA in empowering people to become homeowners.
A few months ago, we highlighted the referral partnership between Model Cities and Twin Cities Habitat. Today, we’re excited to share an update from one of the first families who chose to prepare for Habitat homeownership by partnering with Model Cities (one of several Twin Cities Habitat Referral Partners).
Guest Blog by Jackie Peak
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Staff
Summer is a time for BBQ, brews and live blues music! On Saturday, August 5th Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth held their 6th Annual Blues, Brews N BBQs, with more than 1,000 music fans and food lovers in attendance.
“We’re here to educate, empower, and protect.”
That was one of the first things Susan Schroeder, Financial Empowerment Program Developer at Dakota County, says as we sit down for a conversation in her office. Together with her colleague, Russell Crissman, they’re doing things differently at Dakota County—in a good way.
State Farm is a consistent sponsor of Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs, regularly supporting Campus Chapters and engaging youth in disaster rebuilding and recovery efforts. This year, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) was awarded a $2,000 matching grant and a $1,000 capacity building grant to expand our youth programs. This enabled TCHFH to engage over 400 youth in Hands-On Building workshops and exceeded the $2,000 fundraising goal by raising $2,830!
We're excited to announce that all summer long (June 1 - August 31, 2017), we will be the featured Charity Partner of Sencha Tea Bars here in the Twin Cities! As part of this partnership, Sencha has created a new summer drink to support Habitat for Humanity:
Faith groups that partner with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity are helping to eliminate poverty housing and build a stronger community. They commit money and volunteers, putting their faith in action to help build, repair and rehab homes alongside hard-working, low-income families.
“It’s not if you can buy a home, but when.”
That’s what Linda White, Homeownership Advisor at Model Cities, tells the families she’s preparing for homeownership through one-on-one financial coaching. With her background in banking and extensive knowledge of the homeownership process, Linda will meet with clients as many times as they need to work with them on their dream of homeownership.
Great things are happening at Bii Gii Wiin Community Development Loan Fund, a referral partner with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. Like Twin Cities Habitat, Bii Gii Wiin offers financial coaching and prepares people for homeownership. But they offer other services too, such as free tax preparation through a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, micro entrepreneurship training for opening a small business, an Individual Development Account program, a credit enhancement loan product, and financial and homeownership workshops.
Amber Leger, VITA Site Coordinator and Executive Assistant at Bii Gii Wiin, says of the programs at Bii Gii Wiin: “It’s the client’s dream and I’m here to build that with them.”