Groundbreaking for A New Home for Habitat

Ceremony represents new direction in affordable housing

The beautiful new building will be an iconic community landmark on the new Central Corridor Green Line when it opens in 2014.

Details: Thursday, May 9 at 11am at 1954 University Ave. in St. Paul 55104 (intersection of Prior Ave. and University Ave.)

Background: Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will join Twin Cities Habitat CEO and President Susan Haigh and other dignitaries in a groundbreaking ceremony for Habitat’s highly-visible New Home. The building, which will be just steps from a stop on the new Green Line, will allow Twin Cities Habitat to serve tens of thousands of local families with its programs and services in the coming decades.

Media contacts: Patrick Dunn, Communications Associate for Twin Cities Habitat 

Speakers at the ceremony will include:

• Susan Haigh, President and CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
• Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
• Mary Lynn Staley, Member of the Habitat for Humanity International Board of Directors
• Rick Beeson, Executive Vice President for Corporate Development and Government Relations at Sunrise Banks
• Norm Baer, Chairman of the Twin Cities Habitat Board of Directors

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Facts:

• Twin Cities Habitat was established in 1985 and finished its first home in 1986.
• More than 950 families have purchased Twin Cities Habitat homes built by volunteers.
• Homebuyers mortgage payments to Twin Cities Habitat help fund more homes.
• Habitat homebuyers must do 300-500 hours of “sweat equity” before buying their home.
• Habitat homebuyers complete courses on things like budgeting and home maintenance. This thorough training has helped bring Twin Cities Habitat’s foreclosure rate below 1%.
• Twin Cities Habitat volunteers build or rehab between 50 and 60 homes each year.
• More than 1,500 low-income families have been served by volunteers through Twin Cities Habitat’s A Brush with Kindness home repair program since it was started in 1998.
• Twin Cities Habitat’s Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program has served more than 5,000 homeowners since it was started in 1993.
• The Habitat ReStore in New Brighton sells donated building materials and home improvement supplies to the public at deep discounts. Sales help fund Habitat projects and keep usable items out of landfills.
• More than 17,000 people volunteer with Twin Cities Habitat each year.
• More than 7,000 individuals, congregations, corporations and foundations donate to Twin Cities Habitat’s mission each year.

About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Our mission is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. An award-winning nonprofit housing developer, Twin Cities Habitat is committed to building the quality of life, health and economic prosperity of the region by producing, preserving and advocating for affordable homeownership – because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities. www.tchabitat.org