As a result of our efforts, twenty additional people in our community, including fourteen children, have dignified, decent housing as the foundation for a stable life. We also continued to provide the financial means for over 400 additional community members to maintain a zero percent interest mortgage on their current Habitat home, keeping payments affordable. In order to provide our new families with a self-sustaining "hand up," they completed required homeowner education classes regarding indoor and outdoor maintenance, budgeting and credit, fire safety, crime prevention, and energy efficiency. Through our InterFaith Build, we provided a venue for people of multiple faiths to work together, understand each other, and focus on what unites us instead of on what divides us. The experience of working with Habitat for Humanity is transformative for everyone involved, not just the family receiving the home. We believe that we help to build a stronger community by creating a space where people can come together. Over 200 people, organizations, and businesses in Stewartville came together to construct our first home in that community, providing a home for a family of seven lifelong area residents. In recognition of our shared obligation to the largest "habitat" of all; our planet, all Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity homes are build to both federal "EnergyStar" and "Minnesota Green Communities" standards.

While maintain housing production at a steady level of three homes, we will be working to finance, build out, and open a "Habitat ReStore" used building supply store. At the store, individuals and contractors can donate leftover used building supplies. The ReStore, in turn, will sell these supplies at 10-50% of their new retail prices, rendering them affordable for many working families. Proceeds will then be used to create more permanent housing solutions in our community.

Working families seeking a hand up, not a hand out, to get out of poverty housing. Most families that we serve earn between 25-50% of the county median income.

Olmsted County, Eastern Dodge County, Pine Island