Guest Blog by Jake Kirchgessner, 
Director of Field Operations, 
with many contributions from Site Staff and AmeriCorps Members 

Each winter, Twin Cities Habitat has relied on a small but hardy group of 300 volunteers to build, repair, and modify homes from December through February. We call these people Winter Warriors! 

But this wasn't a typical year. After pausing all volunteering on build sites and also at ReStore because of COVID-19, we needed a solution. A solution that would continue to build homes—because hope doesn't take a snow day!

Our top notch team of Site Supervisors, AmeriCorps service members and a handful of contractors have now become our Winter Warriors by continuing the progress you made earlier in the build season.

While we miss you all and wish you could be with us in person, we felt it necessary to give a quick update on what's happening right now on build sites all over the Metro. We hope you continue to virtually be with us, stay engaged, and hit the ground running once we all can be together again in-person.

Homebuilding Updates

Beech St, St. Paul

Site Supervisors: Katie, Beth, and Jimi
AmeriCorps: Joelle and more
The team has worked on completing interior framing, porch framing, insulation, and is currently working on drywall.

Three homes on Maryland Ave W, St. Paul

Site Supervisors: Rhonda and Tim
AmeriCorps: Luke, Tony, and more

Home 417: The team has worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, and siding. Staff are currently working on interior finishes.

Home 413: The team has worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and siding. Insulation has been completed and the crew is currently working on hanging drywall with a local sub-contractor.

Home 409: The team has worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, siding, insulation and drywall. The interior is painted and waiting for interior finishes.

Several homes on Wells Ave, St. Paul

Site Supervisors: Terra, Melissa, and Marcia
AmeriCorps: Aaron, Tom, Luce, and more

Homes 588-590: The team has worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, siding, and insulation. Drywall was started by volunteers and all the drywall is now finished.

Homes 594-596: The team has worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, siding, and insulation. Drywall has been completed by the Habitat crew and they are now moving to interior finishes.

Stay safe on site!

Thomas Ave, St. Paul

Site Supervisor: Isaac
AmeriCorps: Seb
This home was on hold, but is now back in action. It's paint ready and interior finishes are being worked on.

Iglehart Ave, St. Paul

Site Supervisor: Beth
AmeriCorps: Emily
The team is working with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, siding, insulation, and drywall. Once these are completed, the team will tackle interior finishes.

Generation Ave, Hugo

Site Supervisor: McKinsie
AmeriCorps: Mickey
The team is currently working with a sub-contractor on interior finishes.

Vincent Ave N, Minneapolis

Site Supervisors: Lynda and Rose
AmeriCorps: Sarah and Maddie
This home gets a final clean and is in the punch list phase (final to-do list). It will be ready for a family in mid-February.

3rd St, Farmington

Site Supervisor: Jimi
AmeriCorps: Griffin and more
Volunteers helped get most of this home painted, and Jimi and Griffin were able to get it completed. When other teams become available, they will continue interior finishes.

James Ave N, Minneapolis

Site Supervisor: Rose
AmeriCorps: Chase and Lane
The team is currently working on interior finishes and foundation repair.

30th Ave N, Minneapolis

Site Supervisor: Marcia
AmeriCorps: Hailey and Sashi
The team is working on interior finishes when they're not on Wells St. Sub-contractors worked on, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, and siding.

Two homes on Logan Ave N, Minneapolis

Site Supervisors: Zack, Alison, Joe, and Mart
AmeriCorps: Dominic, Will, and Hannah L.

Home 412: The team worked to complete framing and worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, siding and getting the basement floor poured. They are currently working on the front porch and insulation.

Home 418: The team worked on framing and worked with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, siding, and getting the basement floor poured. They are currently getting ready for insulation, and will work with sub-contracted drywall hanging and finishing.

Two homes on Emerson Ave N, Minneapolis

Site Supervisor: Tony
AmeriCorps: Maddie and Sarah
The team completed framing and porches. They worked with sub-contractors to complete mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and siding. They recently completed framing inspection and are moving to sub-contracted insulation and drywall hanging and finishing.

4th St NE, Columbia Heights

Site Supervisors: Kelly and Todd
This rehab home has gone through some demo and is currently going through asbestos abatement.

Two homes on Niskanen Circle, Chaska

Site Supervisors: Skip, Stephen, Jesse, and Isaac
AmeriCorps: Jim and Hannah A.
The team completed the framing, including interior walls, roof trusses, sheathing, and drying in. They are currently working with sub-contractors on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installation. Some team members will switch to Thomas Ave.

103rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids

Site Supervisor: Bryn
AmeriCorps: Avery and Bob
The team is working on interior finishes and quickly moving to the final punch list.

Help continue our work by dedicating a gift to our hard-working site staff and AmeriCorps service members. Even in the coldest parts of the year, these Winter Warriors continue on!

Feel free to comment with other things you'd like us to showcase on our blog. Stay warm and safe!