Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Last updated: August 25, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

Beyond all else, our highest priority is the health and safety of our entire Twin Cities Habitat community— staff, clients, volunteers, supporters, and all our neighbors across Minnesota.

As part of the Habitat family, you understand the power of community action. Thank you for your continued support during this time and for playing your part in promoting the well-being of our entire community. If it's within your capacity and you'd like to financially support Habitat through this difficult time, you can make a donation here.

Our facilities and operations are following strict safety protocols:

Our main office at 1954 University Ave is closed to the public until further notice.
Both ReStore Home Improvement Outlets (Minneapolis and New Brighton) are open with new restrictions.
We are now scheduling volunteers for opportunities following new safety protocols.
A Brush with Kindness is completing only exterior projects until further notice.
Age Well at Home is working on home modification projects previously suspended.
Most events will be virtual for the foreseeable future. Special Builds may continue with modifications.

Find information about COVID-19 on the CDC website.

Read details below or jump to these sections:

Habitat Clients
Volunteers
Events
ReStore
Headquarters at 1954 University Ave, St. Paul
Additional Resources

Habitat Clients

All client services are virtual until further notice. We are committed to your partnership with us and to supporting your family through this difficult time.

Current Habitat Homeowners

The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program is now accepting applications. This program provides housing assistance payments to help prevent eviction, homelessness and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners.

There are three ways to determine your eligibility:

Call 211 (Toll Free: 1.800.543.7709; Local: 651.291.0211)
Visit 211unitedway.org
Text "MNRENT" or "MNHOME" to 898-211

Habitat is here to support you. If you are experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID-19 and have concerns about paying your mortgage with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity or TCHFH Lending, Inc., please contact: AmeriNat at (800) 943-1988 or covid19relief@amerinatls.com or Bethany Nagan, Mortgage Portfolio Manager, at 612-305-7120 or bethany.nagan@tchabitat.org.

We know some Habitat homeowners have received misleading offers to help with mortgage assistance or foreclosure prevention from other parties that are not Habitat. Some of you have also received calls offering to purchase your home. Please do not respond to these offers. Working directly with Habitat as your lender is your best option.

Homeowner Development, Financial Coaching, and Lending:

Intake and matching are conducted via email and phone.
Financial Coaching is conducted via phone. Our Homeownership Advisors are certified for virtual coaching.
Homebuyer Education Classes are conducted via Webinar.
Mortgage lending process is conducted via email and phone. If you have an upcoming closing, your mortgage closing will be in-person following best practices for social distancing. Look for more information from your Community Loan Officer.

Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention:

Counseling is conducted via phone. Our Mortgage Foreclosure Counselor is certified for virtual counseling. We are here to support you. Find more information here.

A Brush with Kindness Home Repair:

Exterior projects are active with small groups of staff and volunteers.
We are accepting applications for future services. Apply here.

Age Well at Home:

We are back working on home modification projects previously suspended. We will begin taking healthcare referral applications starting August 15.
Exterior volunteer opportunities will be open starting in September.

Volunteers

We are now scheduling groups and individuals for volunteer opportunities on construction sites and at ReStore Outlets following strict safety protocols. All volunteers are required to watch a safety orientation video and agree to new safety protocols to participate. See our Volunteer Page for more information about available volunteer opportunities.

Events

Most events will be virtual for the foreseeable future. Special Builds may continue in-person with modifications. See below for details on a few upcoming events.

All Home Celebrations are cancelled until further notice.
Jordan Week of Kindness on June 6 was cancelled.
Senior Pastor Build and Foundation Build are cancelled and may be rescheduled. We will share more information as soon as we have it.
Minnesota Craft Beer Festival 2020 is cancelled. The 2021 event is scheduled for April 17, 2021. Details here about ticket transfers and refunds.
Women of Habitat Luncheon will be virtual at noon the week of October 5, 2020. Date to be announced and details coming soon.
CEO Build on October 13 will continue with safety modifications (by invitation only).

ReStore

Both ReStore Home Improvement Outlets (Minneapolis and New Brighton) are now open to the public. Please review the new protocols and rules before making a visit, including the requirement that customers must wear a face mask.

ReStore has also resumed donation pickups (Twin Cities metro area) and donation drop-offs. Additional safety protocols have been created, so please review them before making a visit.

For hours and directions, please visit the ReStore website.

Headquarters at 1954 University Ave, St. Paul

Our office is closed to the public until further notice. Select staff have very limited access to the office building following strict safety protocols.

These are uncharted waters and uncertain times, and we greatly appreciate your continued support, patience, and trust as we navigate this together.

Every day, you rely on people just like those who partner with us. Especially during this global emergency. Our clients are nurses, food service workers, bus drivers, airport employees. Some have seen hours slashed or wages eliminated. Others are working double-time to keep our community safe. The effects of this crisis will have ripple effects for many months to come.

In a time when very little is certain, you can help build stability and certainty for your neighbors with a gift to Habitat.