AFFILIATE HISTORY
A group of individuals emerged from the Community Presbyterian Church in 1992 to address the housing needs of low income individuals in Itasca County. Over the next year, a dedicated group of individuals worked to create the by-laws and the Articles of Incorporation needed to become an Affiliate. On May 1, 1993 the original board of directors received notification of their official status as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Construction on the first home in Grand Rapids started shortly after.
The following table outlines the homes completed by ICHFH:
| House # | Location | Year Completed |
| 1 | Grand Rapids | 1993 |
| 2 | Bovey | 1994 |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | 1994 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids | 1995 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | 1996 |
| 6 | Bovey | 1997 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids | 1998 |
| 8 | Deer River | 1999 |
| 9 | Deer River | 1999 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids | 2000 |
| 11 | Nashwauk | 2000 |
| 12 | Cohasset | 2001 |
| 13 | Grand Rapids | 2002 |
| 14 | Grand Rapids | 2002 |
| 15 | Bigfork | 2003 |
| 16 | Cohasset | 2005 |
| 17 | Cohasset | 2006 |
| 18 | Cohasset | 2006 |
| 19 | Coleraine | 2007 |
| 20 | Grand Rapids | 2007 |
| 21 | Cohasset | 2007 |
| 22 | Cohasset | 2008 |
| 23 | Deer River | 2008 |
| 24 | Bovey | 2008 |
| 25 | Bovey | 2009 |
| 26 | Calumet | 2009 |
| 27 | Bovey | 2009 |
| 28 | Deer River | 2009 |
| 29 | Bovey | 2010 |
| 30 | Calumet | 2011 |
| 31 | Calumet | 2011 |
| 32 | Deer River | 2011 |
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2004 was a year of tremendous change for ICHFH. The board of directors realized that if the Affiliate was going to have an impact on the need for affordable housing in Itasca County, they would have to increase their capacity to build. The board of directors committed to building three homes per year starting in 2005.
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Itasca County Habitat for Humanity remained an all volunteer-based organization until September, 2004, when the Board of Directors voted unanimously to hire an Executive Director. A part-time project manager was added to the growing organization in December 2004. The project manager is now full-time.
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In April 2007, the ReStore was opened. The ReStore is a retail outlet, open to the public, that sells used and surplus building materials. All the materials are donated from businesses and individuals. All proceeds from the ReStore are used to build more Habitat homes in Itasca County.
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Myths & Facts about Habitat
Myth:
Habitat for Humanity gives houses to the poor.
Fact:
Habitat houses are not given to anyone. A 0% interest, 25-30 year mortgage is financed through Habitat for Humanity for these homes. The home owner(s) are required to invest 300-600(max.) hours of “sweat equity” per adult occupant in their or another Habitat home.
Myth:
Habitat homes are financed through banks.
Fact:
Applicants cannot qualify for a Habitat home if they can qualify for a conventional mortgage. Payments are made directly to Habitat for Humanity. No financial entity is charging interest on any Habitat Home mortgage.
Myth:
Habitat homeowners are on welfare.
Fact:
Habitat homeowners typically earn incomes that are 30-50 percent of the median income in the area. Many receive public assistance. Although owning a home is not the answer to every problem, it can be an important step, perhaps first step, out of poverty.
Myth:
Habitat houses depreciate neighborhood property values.
Fact:
Habitat homes are new homes made from all new materials. 90% of the labor is volunteer labor. Local people are investing in new neighbor’s homes, elevating the tax base, strengthening the community. This increases property values and community values as well.
Myth:
Habitat homeowners sell their houses and make a large profit because of the original low cost.
Fact:
On each Habitat home two mortgages are taken out. One is for the cost of building the home and the second is for the difference in what it costs us to build it and the appraised value of the home. The second mortgage is forgiven at a rate of 5% over a period of 10 to 20 years as long as the family stays in the home during that time. There is no forgiveness if the home is not sold as a single family dwelling.
Myth:
Donations don’t stay locally to help local efforts.
Fact:
All donations made to Itasca County Habitat for Humanity are used locally in the construction of new Habitat homes.
Myth:
Habitat for Humanity was started by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Fact:
In 1976 Millard & Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Ga. (8 miles from the Carter’s home in Plains, GA). In 1984 the “Jimmy Carter Work Project” began. More than 1,000 houses have been built in conjunction with these special weeks. This project has raised enough public awareness for the need for affordable housing that the myth began. THANK YOU CARTERS!
If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
Exodus 22:25
