 
2006 HOME BUILDERS BLITZ
Local Home builders teaming
up with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver to build 15 homes
in 7 days!
Colorado home builders are joining forces to give
back to the community in a very big way – building 15 Habitat
for Humanity houses in only 7 days during the week of June 5, 2006.
This incredible undertaking will be part of a simultaneous nationwide
event. Home builders and Habitat affiliates across the country will
set a new milestone in the history of affordable housing production – building
1,000 houses in one week!
About the Build
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and 12 local home building
leaders are supporting this outstanding goal. Working together, they
will be building hope, changing lives and opening doors to brighter
futures for 15 hard-working families in need of a decent and affordable
place to call home. The Home Builder’s Blitz partners are dedicating
tremendous energy and resources to this worthy goal. The builders are
responsible for the entire project – from funding, to planning,
to building the homes. Working with suppliers and contractors, the
builders will solicit donations of money, as well as donations of materials
and labor to deliver the home at no cost to Habitat. The homes will
then be sold to the families with a no-interest loan.
The Builders
To date, fourteen generous home builders are sponsoring the
blitz. These are: Amber Homes, Austin Signature Homes, K & D Holdings
in partnership with All Trades Services, Dimensions, Inc.,
KZ Smith and Company, McStain Neighborhoods (2 homes), Monterra Homes,
New Town Builders, Palace Construction, Pulte Homes, Renaissance Homes
of Colorado, Sattler Homes, Summit Chalet Properties, and Wonderland
Homes.
The Neighborhood: Tollgate Crossing
The Home Builder’s Blitz will take place at Tollgate
Crossing located in Aurora near E-470 and Quincy. For the first time
in metro Denver, Habitat for Humanity will be building homes in a new,
market-rate subdivision. A total of 54 lots were donated by an anonymous
donor. Fifteen of these will be used for the Builder’s Blitz.
The homes will be part of a 300 home subdivision being built by New
Town Builders, supplying the metro area with affordable housing along
with market-rate housing. Tollgate Crossing is located in the Cherry
Creek School District giving the children of the 54 families living
in Tollgate access to excellent educational opportunities.
The Homes
Habitat worked with Braun & Yoshida architects to design
homes that were compatible with the market-rate homes but were also
affordable to people earning less than 50 percent of area median income,
and could be constructed by volunteers. All Habitat homes are built
to be durable, attractive and energy efficient. Habitat consistently
wins awards for its energy efficiency standards. The homes are single-unit
detached homes ranging from 950 - 1,350 sq. feet. There will
be three distinct architectural designs including Craftsman, Denver
Square, and Farmhouse styles.
About Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver is an ecumenical non-profit
homeownership organization dedicated to building decent, affordable
homes in partnership with low-income families. The homes are sold to
qualified families at no profit to Habitat and with a zero-interest
loan. Families make a down payment and also contribute 250-500 hours
of sweat-equity labor to help build their own home, as well as the
homes of other Habitat families. Their monthly mortgage payment helps
fund more Habitat homes. Homeowner families also participate in the
Homeowner Self-Sufficiency classes which help foster increased economic
independence and self-reliance. Families who qualify to purchase a
Habitat home are currently in need of decent, stable and affordable
housing, are willing to help build their home, and meet the financial
requirements.
Ultimately, Habitat builds more than houses. By freeing
families from the unending struggles that accompany inadequate shelter,
Habitat houses open doors to increased pride and self-esteem. Ninety-eight
percent of metro Denver Habitat families say they have set new goals
for themselves since becoming homeowners. In the process of building
homes, Habitat also u nites people of good will across race, ethnic,
religious and geographic boundaries to build community in the metro
Denver area.
This year, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has
been selected as the National Habitat Affiliate of the Year honoring
excellence in all areas of affiliate operations. Locally, Habitat
builds about 28 homes a year and has built 255 since its inception
in 1979. Worldwide, Habitat has built 200,000 homes in more than
100 countries housing over 1 million people.
The Families
Habitat sells homes to hardworking families who are in need
of safe, decent and affordable housing. The homeowners go through a
rigorous screening process and participate in building their home.
They come from all walks of life, but all have the same goal – to
build a better life for their family. For every family, owning a home
is truly achieving the American dream.
For example, future homeowner Antoinette Moore, who
works as a hospital housekeeper, will be the first person in her
entire extended family to become a homeowner. She dreams that her
children will see her example and will also strive to own their own
home one day.
Almost every Habitat family talks about the joy that
their children will have when they can play in their own yard. Most
families currently live in apartments or in areas where it’s
too dangerous, typically because of gangs and crime, for their children
to play outside. Rocio and Victor Mejia say, “Our daughters
only have small concrete patio to play in. A yard will be wonderful
for them!”
Several families are refugees from war-torn countries
such as Kosovo and Sudan and have worked hard to build new lives
in the United States. Alaa Mohamed, who holds a degree in economics
from the University of Sudan, works as a grocery store clerk. His
wife is a child care worker. Alaa says, “Owning a home is a
dream for us. We are so grateful for everyone’s generosity – we
know we are being given a big chance.”
Alicia Perez is a single mom with two young children.
She works as a hospital aide and hopes to become a nurse in the future.
Like most of the families chosen for the Builder’s Blitz, she
is looking forward to the stability of owning her own home and living
in one place. “The most exciting thing for me is knowing that
my children will go to the same school and be a part of the same
neighborhood for years to come.” Anjelina Trujillo expresses
a similar sentiment, “My children will benefit so much from
being in the same school system year after year, and especially one
as good as Cherry Creek Schools.” She goes on to say, “I
look forward to really being part of a neighborhood and community”.
Habitat’s goal is to help families become financially
stable. Because mortgage payments are set at only 25% of the homeowner’s
gross monthly income, families have more income to spend on important
needs other than housing. Becky Madison, who works the graveyard
shift at a girls counseling center, says, “Being able to afford
a decent home in a nice neighborhood, or kids sports activities,
or church summer camp, or even a small savings for family vacations are
things that some people don't think twice about--but for us means
actually living life, and not just existing in it while the world
passes us by. The day that we move into our new Habitat home
will be just like walking right into the very first
day of the rest of our lives!”
www.habitatmetrodenver.org |
