Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to Host the 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is honored to be named host of the 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in fall 2024! During its nearly 40-year history, the Carter Work Project has traveled to 14 countries and brings together thousands of volunteers, celebrities, elected officials, and other VIPs to build homes and cast a global spotlight on the urgent importance of affordable housing. The 2024 Carter Work Project will launch Habitat’s construction efforts at The Heights on St. Paul's East Side, Twin Cities Habitat's largest-ever development!

The news was shared with a ceremonial passing of the hammer between Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region and Twin Cities Habitat during the closing ceremony of this year’s week-long blitz build in Charlotte.

Chris Coleman (left), President & CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, receives the golden hammer in Charlotte.

The Carters: Habitat's Most Famous Volunteers

The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual event which celebrates the impact that President & Mrs. Carter have had on Habitat for Humanity’s mission around the world. The much beloved former president and first lady are celebrated as Habitat’s most famous volunteers. Together, from 1984 until 2019, they served as champions and strong voices for decent, affordable housing around the world, having worked alongside more than 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate, and repair 4,390 homes during that time. 

“President and Mrs. Carter have helped open doors for thousands of Habitat homeowners while advancing racial equity in housing,” said Chris Coleman, President & CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. “It’s an honor to be selected to host the 2024 Carter Work Project and carry on the Carters’ inspiring legacy of service and generosity to others.”

As President and Mrs. Carter have retired from public life, a new generation of Habitat Humanitarians will carry the torch. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will continue the Carters’ legacy as hosts of the Carter Work Project.

Twin Cities Habitat was also one of the host affiliates for the 2010 Carter Work Project. That year, hundreds of volunteers came together to build, renovate, or repair 26 homes in North Minneapolis and the East Side of St. Paul.

Melo Lawson was working toward Habitat homeownership at the time, and her home was chosen to kick off the Carter Work Project in Minneapolis. She was shocked when she showed up on the site of her future home and President Jimmy Carter was there. He picked up some tools and joined her in building her home! Since moving into her Habitat home in 2011, Melo has gone on to earn an Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, and a Master's Degree in education. Melo's children are thriving. And Melo is still so grateful for all the volunteers, including Jimmy Carter, who helped make her dream a reality.

Read Melo's inspiring story, in her own words >

President Jimmy Carter and Melo Lawson working on Melo's future Habitat home in 2010.

The Heights: Our Largest Development Ever

Over the five days of the Carter Work Project, more than 2,000 volunteers from the Twin Cities and around the world will gather to build dozens of homes along one city block at The Heights on St. Paul’s East Side.

“We are thrilled to join Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity in hosting the Carter Work Project in Saint Paul next year to continue moving progress forward at The Heights,” said Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. "This opportunity celebrates the Carters’ humanitarian legacy and shines a national spotlight on our groundbreaking efforts to create vibrant, sustainable, and affordable housing solutions for everyone.”

The Heights is an environmentally friendly redevelopment of the 112-acre former Hillcrest Golf Course at the intersection of Larpenteur Avenue and McKnight Road. The Saint Paul Port Authority (SPPA) is leading the redevelopment, which will include both housing and light industrial redevelopment with a minimum of 1,000 living-wage, low-barrier jobs and 1,000 housing units. Sherman Associates is the lead housing developer for the project. Sherman is partnering with JO Companies and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity on a portion of the housing units. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity plans to build up to 150 homes at the site, starting with the homes built during the Carter Work Project.

“We are excited to have Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity as a partner committed to providing high-quality, affordable homeownership opportunities at The Heights project,” said Todd Hurley, President and CEO of the Saint Paul Port Authority. “Together with other project partners, this effort will be transformative for the City of Saint Paul and its Greater East Side.”

The Heights is Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s largest project to date. Twin Cities Habitat intends to make these homeownership opportunities available and affordable to local families and individuals, with a focus on reaching those renting in the vibrant East Side community.

An aerial view of The Heights master plan. Twin Cities Habitat will be developing the four blocks labeled "E".

Rendering of what one of the four blocks of Habitat homeownership could look like.

Rendering of a single-family home at The Heights.

Build Forward Together

Funds raised through the 2024 Carter Work Project are expected to contribute substantially to The Heights project and Twin Cities Habitat’s Build Forward Together strategic plan. Build Forward Together is designed to expand homeownership opportunities, advance racial equity, and engage the community to strengthen Habitat’s foundation. Already we've made significant progress on the Harrison Townhomes, one of Twin Cities Habitat's largest developments in Minneapolis. And we've launched a new Advancing Black Homeownership Program to break down historic barriers to homeownership for Black Minnesotans.