Habitat For Humanity Fall 2022 Newsletter

lake agassiz habitat for humanity

blueprints

Kathy Benjamin, 2021 Homeowner shows off the keys to her new home.

The past 18 months have been nothing short of amazing. After a year with no volunteers, we were thrilled to welcome you back in droves to work on our 2021 homes. Our amazing donors and volunteers helped us complete homes for Jamie, Sarah, Kathy, and Roxanne, all single moms who have worked tirelessly to provide this opportunity for their families. They are all moved in and turning their houses into homes.

However, this year has not been without challenges. 2021 saw historic disruptions in the supply of building products, delaying the completion of our builds well into 2022. On top of product delays, we are now seeing the impact of inflation on the cost of construction, with little end in sight. We will likely see our construction costs increase by 50 percent from 2021 to 2023. This increase is unprecedented and creates a significant challenge for the construction of affordable housing in our community.

executive director

Jim Nelson

Our goal was to serve four families in 2022, with a stretch goal of building a fifth home. These plans unraveled as we began to see significant cost increases, leaving us with the funding to support builds for only three families this year. While our fundraising efforts for the 2022 season have been the most successful in our organization’s history, we will still be building fewer homes than last year. Unfortunately, the demand for affordable housing has only increased during the past year. More and more families are being squeezed out of home ownership opportunities due to inflation and the downturn in the economy. Habitat’s mission of providing everyone with a decent place to live is needed now more than ever.

Despite these setbacks, our 2022 builds are progressing quickly. Our first build, the Spartan Build, was built by Fargo North High School students and moved to a lot in North Fargo in June. Our second build, the Border States build, began in May in the Border States parking lot. The Border States house was moved to its permanent site in West Fargo in late June. The Spartan and Border States homes should be ready for the Kester and Adam families this fall! Our second annual CEO build began in September, and the Martinez family should be able to move in early 2023. If you are interested in being a part of our 2023 CEO Build (or any build), please let me know.

The ReStore remains one of our community’s best-kept secrets, averaging over 18,000 customers and diverting over 1.5 million pounds of product away from our local landfills every year. To improve the shopping experience, we have reroofed the building and improved the front façade, lighting, and signage. Our next project is to replace the entire parking lot, as it’s well past its life expectancy. Unfortunately, a new lot will cost roughly $350,000 and we need your help to raise these funds. Look for the “Adopt a Pothole” opportunity on page 5 to learn how you can be a part of this improvement.

As our society evolves through the changes brought upon us by COVID-19 and the increased awareness of social injustices, we want to embrace change and find creative opportunities for Lake Agassiz Habitat to evolve into a new reality. We see a future where we serve up to ten families a year, and we need YOU to help us get there! Please consider setting up a monthly gift to help ensure EVERYONE in our community has a decent place to live.

Thank you, Jim Nelson - Executive Director

our habitat family: Like a Miracle From the Sky’

FARGO, North Dakota — Penina Adam is soft-spoken and sits with her hands folded in her lap. Penina and her five children, three boys and two girls ages 5 to 16, have known abuse and hunger. They’ve trusted and been betrayed, and they’ve had to move from place to place. This coming autumn, those circumstances will change for good.

Watching Penina’s face as she tries to form the words beyond “thank you” speaks volumes about her happiness at being chosen as a Habitat for Humanity family.

“It is like a miracle from the sky,” Penina said. “I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough. I have no words.”

Until fall 2022, home for Penina and her family includes three bedrooms and one bathroom in north Fargo. They’ve been asked to leave apartments in the past because, Penina said, her boys are so hyper and loud. They now live where Penina’s income will afford them to, but it’s tough.

“Come summer, it’s a disaster,” she said. “We get a lot of water when it rains, and we have to scoop the water out.”

They have no air conditioning, and even with five fans, it is hot. And then there are the drugs.

“I don’t want my kids growing up with drugs and being disrespectful,” she said. “There are a lot of drugs in that area. It’s really bad.”

Their story is more complicated than where they live. Penina’s first marriage was “not a good one,” she said. There was abuse and her husband “drank a lot of alcohol.” When she got into her second relationship, she thought she had found the man she needed; however,

Penina discovered he lied and was using her because he wanted to become a citizen. He also hit Penina and the children, hurting them so badly they had to go to the hospital. That same man threatened to kill her and kidnap the children. The family hit a new low when he took all the money they had, and Penina and the kids had no food.

“Sometimes at night, instead of falling asleep, I have to just be awake,” Penina said. “When I hear a small noise, I’ll be waking up to look – something is coming …”

It is difficult for Penina to speak of this. Amidst all the change and uncertainty, the one constant is her faith. She speaks of it frequently, saying, “I believed God would do miracles to my children.”

When Penina and her family got the news around Christmas that they had been chosen as a Habitat family, she said there was so much jumping from the kids, and they were so happy.

It is like a miracle from the sky

“We can’t explain our happiness,” Penina said. “We cried. We prayed. We are more than happy. My son said, ‘God listened to our prayers.’”

While Penina has no experience building a house, she and the children are excited to help build it as a family. She’s already put in many hours working in Habitat’s ReStore and is looking forward to helping at the build in between her work at Pactiv in Moorhead, Minnesota.

“This will be a better place with freedoms for us,” she said of the new home, which will be in West Fargo. “We can have two bathrooms — enough for showers in the morning!”

There will be other, more significant freedoms — the children can play in a fenced yard with cameras for Penina to keep an eye on them. There will be nights filled with sleep for Penina, instead of fear. The children have just one request: two Christmas trees, one for each level in their new home.

Penina is effusive in her thanks, and she leaves these words for all who are helping them realize their miracle of a new home:

“Thank you so much. May God bless you and reward you and give you happiness in your lives. May God fill your pockets more and more.”

habitat for humanity profiles

see the family move into the completed home and hear children’s laughter and joy is heartwarming. Knowing the build has made a difference in a family’s life was very rewarding. To see family, friends, and colleagues all work together for a common good/goal was so inspiring.

By getting our children involved, we see a further sense of empathy in contributing their time and hard work in helping those less fortunate.

volunteer & donor profile

David & Therese White

How were you introduced to Habitat for Humanity? Our family’s journey with Habitat for Humanity began nearly 15 years ago when I worked with Shealy Electrical, now Border States, in the Carolinas. We were looking for volunteer work that would assist families and children in need. Needless to say, Habitat met our criteria checklist: they had wonderful success in providing safe, secure, and affordable housing to families, and we loved that families had to play an active role in their own success.

How are you inspired by our work? Every Habitat home we’ve been involved with has been so uplifting, fun, and fulfilling. To

Witnessing employees and industry colleagues providing a team approach in working side by side in the construction of the home is amazing. At the same time, they get to have so much fun together.

What types of volunteer roles have you done with Habitat? David and I have been involved with Habitat for Humanity for approximately 10–15 years, and we both have participated in all aspects of the build process, including organizing volunteer participation, setting up for the on-site build, and volunteering from foundation work all the way up to roofing.

Anything else you’d like to add? We’d encourage everyone to get involved in the work that Habitat for Humanity does. It is truly life-changing, not only for the families served but for the volunteers and donors, too. If we all did a little (or a lot) we’d be able to make a huge impact on making the community a better place for all.

volunteer profile

Gary Brekke

How were you introduced to Habitat for Humanity? After a difficult personal loss, I was looking for something positive to do with my time–something to help me feel useful again, and that allowed me to give back. I saw the Habitat booth at the home show and signed up to help. I was hanging drywall the next weekend.

How long have you been volunteering for Habitat? Since I994.

What type of roles have you done with Habitat? I’ve served in multiple ways: Volunteer, Crew Leader, Construction Manager, and Board Member. My latest role has been as a Site Supervisor.

The White Family

Gary Brekke

What is your favorite part of our mission?

My favorite thing about Habitat is working with the volunteers and homeowners and helping them learn to build simple, decent, affordable homes. I also like being able to use my teaching skills to help pass on needed skills at the building site.

What would you tell someone who is curious about volunteering with Habitat? Come work with a great bunch of people who are volunteering their time to provide a family with an opportunity to change their lives. You’ll learn something, have fun, and make a difference. You’ll get to help a family build a house that they can turn into a home.

staff profile

Mike Vandal

How long have you been working for Habitat for Humanity? I have been with Habitat for almost four years.

What drew you to Habitat? I volunteered with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity while living in the Minneapolis area. I enjoyed being involved in the community and feeling like a part of something bigger than myself. When I moved back to this area, I learned that the Manager position was open and felt it really fit my skill set, so I decided to apply.

What is your favorite part of your work? There’s so much that interests me! I enjoy the variety of things I get to do–helping on the home builds, organizing the ReStore, sorting through donations, and more.

What is your favorite part of Habitat’s Mission? I love that the ReStore helps in so many different ways. We keep items out of the landfill and provide reasonably priced goods for people who can’t afford to shop at a regular retail store. On top of all that, the profits help fund our main mission of building affordable homes in our community!

If you could travel anywhere with Habitat International, where would you go? I’d love to travel on a Habitat trip and would be open to almost anywhere.

adopt a pothole

For far too long, the potholes at the ReStore parking lot have been neglected. They’ve been alone and scared, run over by the world. Abandoned by their smooth living parents, they’ve struggled through a life of being unprotected in a world of freezing winters and scorching summers. Being cursed at daily drove them to find something that could fill the holes in their lives. At first, they thought ice and water would fill their needs, but ice and water took advantage of our lowly potholes and only make things worse.

There is hope for the potholes, but they need YOUR help!

For only $125 (less than 35 cents a day) you can give a pothole all of the love, asphalt, sealer, and parking lines it needs to live a long, helpful, and proud life. A life full of helping ReStore customers enjoy their shopping experience. Your donation will also provide our potholes with the support they need to keep the bad influence of ice and water away from them.

With your $125 gift, you can adopt one square yard of our parking lot and improve the shopping experience for thousands of ReStore shoppers. Join us and help fill the hole in a pothole’s heart today!

scan here to donate

Mike Vandal

2022 lake agassiz habitat for humanity builds

Before partnering with Habitat, we lived in an apartment complex with a small lawn, no playground equipment, and no connections with the other tenants. I didn’t feel at ease letting Lauryn play outside for very long. Now, after partnering with Habitat for Humanity, we have a huge yard, friendly and helpful neighbors (many of whom have school-aged children that Lauryn is glad to call her friends) and a park just down the street! Lauryn can safely ride her bike in our neighborhood, and I know that neighbors are keeping an eye on her while she is out and about.

Since moving into our home, I have continued to work at Noridian Healthcare Solutions, a huge supporter of Habitat for Humanity! When the pandemic hit, I was lucky enough to already work for this company that quickly adapted to change, and I began working from home. During that time, I realized that there was no way I would have made it through the pandemic if we had still been living where we were before.

During this time, I learned how to work more

efficiently to meet tight deadlines and how to communicate effectively with my team through virtual platforms. This helped to build my confidence, and I applied for an open position on my team and was hired in October 2021. With that shift in responsibilities, I also made the decision to work from home full-time instead of returning to the office. This was a big change for me, as I had never worked remotely at any of my previous jobs.

Since partnering with Habitat, Lauryn’s academics have continued to improve, and I’ve gotten great updates from her teachers saying how much she’s grown and changed as a learner. Lauryn prides herself in doing a good job and being a good friend to her classmates while also being a respectful and responsible student. Her teachers say she’s a joy to have around and is a natural leader!

Another job opportunity presented itself eight months later, this time for a promotion into a supervisory role on my team. I applied for it and was recently selected for the job, officially moving into the role on July 11th. I can confidently say that my experience with Habitat and the safety and security of living in my own home helped propel me down the career path that I’m currently traveling.

Our outlook for the future is positive and full of hope. We’ve loved every part of our journey with Habitat: from the moment we applied to become a partner family, to helping build our home and other families’ homes, to making new friends and lifelong connections, it’s been one of the most memorable and exciting life experiences we’ve had! Because of Habitat, both Lauryn and I have grown as individuals and as a family. We live in a safe and reliable home, we’re equipped with the tools and foundation we need to continue growing and pursuing our goals, and we couldn’t be more proud to support Habitat’s mission to provide safe and affordable housing for those in need.

the home that ‘heart’ built The change was like night and day.

After partnering with Habitat for Humanity, we have a huge yard, friendly and helpful neighbors