Construction Update
Itasca County Habitat for Humanity celebrated the dedication of the 32nd Habitat home on December 8, 2011. In 2011 ICHFH worked on rehabilitating two homes; one in Cohasset and the other one in Deer River; completed two new homes in the city of Calumet, and started construction in July on the 32nd three bedroom home in Deer River. All homes are green construction using the Minnesota Green Communities Criteria and will be Energy Star certified. Highly efficient Habitat homes consume 10% less energy annually than similar households/home sizes in Minnesota; and use nearly 25% less energy than the state’s annual household average! Efficient Habitat homes can save approximately 15% in utility costs compared to similar homes, and up to 32% over the Minnesota average. That means families in high efficient Habitat homes can see an annual savings of nearly $800; a significant cost relief for families earning poverty wages.
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Letter From Danielle Daigle
My name is Danielle Daigle. In August of 2008 I applied for a Habitat for Humanity home and was selected as a homeowner in March of 2009. I was selected because I had a financial need as well as a unique housing need. As a Habitat homeowner I had a lot of work to do before I could move into my home. There were trainings on finances and homeownership that I had to attend as part of the process. Another requirement was I had to help build my own home and the home of another habitat homeowner. 300 hours is what was required of me but as long as I was available to be on the job site while volunteers were building my house I was asked to be there. It’s a lot of work but it’s amazing how much working side by side with volunteers from out of state as well as from your own community improves your self-worth and sense of belonging in that community.
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I purchased my home in December 2009. Before moving in I was relying on my parents to get me too and from work as well as to town to get the necessities of living because of my visual impairment. Once I moved into my home, which is located right in the middle of town, everything was within walking distance. I can now walk to work, the grocery store, the bank, the hardware store, the clinic/hospital and the drug store, among other places, from my home providing me with a sense of independence and stability/control of my life.
Habitat has provided me not only with a 0% interest mortgage on a new home, that I can afford, but a sense of independence and many, many blessings. Their tag line “The Excitement is Building, Lives are Changing” really holds meaning to me. They have changed my life in so many ways!
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
