Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota

This week, our dedicated staff and board members at Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota had the privilege of volunteering in Red Wing, MN! We worked at two sites: a duplex being constructed with insulated concrete forms (ICF) and a sprawling 5-acre lot for a future development that needed some landscaping love. It was a fun experience to come together, get our hands dirty, and make a tangible impact in our community. Thank you to everyone who participated and to Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity for hosting us!

Exciting News! Join us in congratulating Cristen Incitti, Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota's President & CEO, on her recent appointment to Habitat for Humanity International's U.S. Council! The U.S. Council, established by Habitat International's board of directors, plays a crucial role in guiding the growth of Habitat’s work in the U.S. Its responsibilities include: 🔵 Further the work of all Habitat partners in accomplishing Habitat's mission and holding its principles. 🔵 Serving as the voice for U.S. affiliates and other constituent organizations on policy matters. 🔵 Advising Habitat International staff and the board on U.S. programs' direction and priorities. 🔵 Empowering Habitat affiliates and other U.S. constituent organizations. Additionally, Cristen has been appointed to the Council's Policy Committee! This committee reviews and recommends updates to the Core Tenets, the Quality Assurance Checklist, and the U.S. Affiliated Organization Policy Handbook, incorporating feedback from U.S. affiliated organizations. Please join us in congratulating Cristen on this prestigious appointment and her unwavering dedication to advancing Habitat for Humanity’s mission! 🏡❤️ #HabitatforHumanity #Leadership #CommunityBuilders

For future Habitat homeowner Sophia, her new home means she has the opportunity to give back. 💙 Before being adopted by her family, Sophia grew up in the foster care system. She had always dreamed of growing up to become a foster parent, but with three boys of her own in a one-bedroom home, there simply wasn't space. Their new home in Aitkin is still under construction. Walls are up and the roof is on - you can learn more by checking out Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity on Facebook. Soon, not only will Sophia and her boys be able to move into a safe home, but Sophia's dream of becoming a foster parent will be one step closer as well.

Happy 4th of July! Today, let's commemorate our country's founding principle that ALL people have the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We encourage you to take this opportunity to reflect on the meaning of freedom and how we can work together to ensure it is accessible to all. Let us celebrate not only our independence, but also the freedom we can achieve when we stand united, embracing our differences, and striving for a more equitable future. Please note that our office will be closed on July 4th and 5th as our dedicated team takes a moment to enjoy this national holiday with their loved ones. We will be back on July 8th to continue our work. We wish you a safe and joyful 4th of July! 🎇

Have you ever seen a Habitat home fly? Well, this week out in Aitkin, MN, you could've seen just that! Thanks to a partnership with local home builder Wausau Homes, pre-built panelized walls were loaded on to a semi truck bed and then lifted by crane into place! In one day, they finished all of the walls as well as the trusses for the roof.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our workshop, Messaging Strategies to Unite and Excite, and a huge thank you to JaNaé Bates for leading us! JaNaé specializes in integrating grassroots community organizing and narrative strategy. She has been instrumental in the implementation of the “Race Class Gender Narrative” (RCGN) framework in both Minnesota and across the United States. RCGN offers powerful frameworks for organizing and messaging. By weaving together race, class, and gender, these narratives advance a united worldview, foster cross-racial solidarity, and counter division and fear-based politics. During #NationalHomeownershipMonth, it was amazing to have this group of engaged housing advocates come together to learn. The historic levels of investment in housing and growing awareness of the need in our communities in the last couple years have created momentum that we can continue to build on! Missed the event? You can stay engaged with Habitat Minnesota's advocacy work all year long by signing up for our advocacy updates: https://bit.ly/3NI6Zg9

Habitat Minnesota helps fund projects all across the state by partnering with the 24 local Habitat offices and more than 250 Minnesota households each year! In fiscal year 2023, Habitat Minnesota distributed $4,568,995 in total funding. This included a drastic increase in lending over the previous five fiscal years. With Minnesota home prices increasing steadily, the need for down payment assistance (DPA) also increased. As such, Habitat Minnesota’s down payment assistance program has continued to grow in popularity and demand since it began in fiscal year 2020. Pictured is one of the Minnesota households that was a recipient of Habitat Minnesota's down payment assistance. Jackie, with Douglas County Habitat for Humanity, utilized these funds to allow her to close on her home in March! Now, Jackie and her son Matias have moved in and are enjoying the result of their hard work: a safe, stable, and affordable place to live. 💙 Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County

Happy Anniversary to the #CostofHome campaign!🎉 Stable housing — housing that is safe, healthy, and affordable — is foundational to individuals and families, to the communities in which we live, and to the economies in which we all participate. Over the last five years, through the Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity has advocated for policy solutions that improve home affordability for rental and ownership. Full impact data for the campaign is expected this fall, but you can check out data from the four-year update and learn more about the Cost of Home campaign on Habitat's website today: https://bit.ly/3utnJRu

🌟 We're Hiring 🌟 Events & Administrative Coordinator needed! Join the growing Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota team and make a difference in your community. 🏠 We're looking for a passionate Events & Administrative Coordinator to support our work! Job Summary: As the Events & Administrative Coordinator, you'll be the backbone of our operations, providing crucial support to our staff, CEO, and Board of Directors. Your responsibilities will include managing event logistics, coordinating meetings, handling data entry, and preparing reports. You'll also be instrumental in fostering affiliate relationships and ensuring smooth internal operations. Find the full job description and application instructions on our website: https://bit.ly/4aJ4fbc

Looking for a way to celebrate #NationalHomeownershipMonth? Next week, you can join Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota and JaNaé Bates for an interactive workshop on how to better talk about housing issues. Effective messaging that resonates across diverse communities and drives change is crucial when advocating for affordable housing. This free workshop will focus on building the capacity of our housing network to use data-backed narratives centered around race, class, and gender while addressing pressing issues like NIMBYism ("not in my backyard") within our communities. Everyone interested in advancing affordable housing and building inclusive narratives is welcome to join our free workshop. Whether you're a housing advocate, community organizer, or super volunteer, this training will equip you with valuable skills and insights. Learn more about this event and register: https://bit.ly/3wgBbco