Our New Habitat Families

THE SHELLEY STEVENS FAMILY
The Stevens family, who currently lives with their two cats in Salida, will move into the Thrivent-financed half of the Habitat duplex. Pictured here are Shelley with her three daughters, from left to right, Jacquelyn (7), Brandi (10) and Kimberly (12). The two youngest girls go to Longfellow Elementary School, Brandi in fourth grade, Jacquelyn in first.  Kimberly is a sixth grader at Salida Middle School.Shelley works as a personal care provider out of the Touch of Care office in Salida. While she now cares for clients in the Salida area, she will do the same for clients in Buena Vista when the family moves into their new home. A lifelong native of Salida, Shelley has close family members in Chaffee County and all three girls were born here.

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THE JAMIE WATTS FAMILY
Jamie Watts and her family of three boys plus a cat and dog live in Buena Vista and will move into one half of the duplex.  Jamie is recently divorced and shares custody of the three boys with her ex-husband who also lives in Chaffee County.  Jamie works as a 911 dispatcher for the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Department and commutes daily to Salida.Kelton Bassingthwaite (9) is in the third grade at Avery Parsons Elementary School and his brother, Ethan (6), is in kindergarten at the same school.  Grady (4) is in the Head Start Program.

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New Members Join Board

Erin Manning and Rich Tyler joined the Chaffee County Habitat Board at the last meeting. Erin was educated at North Carolina State and the University of Colorado in Civil Engineering.  She is an Air Force reserve officer in Kansas (McConnell AFB) and has worked as a civil engineer for both the Air Force and the City and County of Denver.  A fairly new resident of Salida, Erin is currently employed as a realtor with Salida Realty. (Photo unavailable.)

Rich Tyler, a self-employed professional artist, has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa.  He has worked in graphic design, commercial interior design and has extensive experience in graphic, printmaking, drawing, painting and architectural design.  Rich has been a Salida resident since 2000. Chaffee County Habitat is very fortunate to have such talented individuals join the Board.

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Kick-off Dinner of Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity

The gentlemen in the picture are from l to r:  Jim Sturgis, Pastor, Faith Lutheran, Buena Vista; Al Horton, Lutheran Community Services Specialist - Thrivent Builds; and Gary Martin, President, Collegiate Peaks Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  

The Thrivent for Lutherans grant to Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity will supply 65% of the cost of one unit of the duplex to be built on West Main Street in Buena Vista.  The local Thrivent chapter along with First Lutheran Church, Salida, and Faith Lutheran Church, Buena Vista, will contribute another 10%; and we will fund the remaining 25%.  In addition, half of the volunteer workers on this project will come from the two Lutheran churches, with half of those being Thrivent members.

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Selection Committee Meeting

Members of the Selection Committee met in early February to select the partner families for the duplex.  Pictured are Janet Lastovica, Marti Thomas, Elvin Benton, Judy Goldstock and Jeanne Rasmussen.  Members not pictured are Becky Arthur, Donna Francis and Pat Riley.

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Chaffee County Habitat For Humanity Awarded Cornerstone Project Grant

Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity has been awarded a Cornerstone Project grant from Habitat for Humanity of Colorado.  The grant is designed to strengthen local chapters, starting with a comprehensive, on-site assessment to determine strengths, weaknesses and goals.  The result will be a thorough plan for Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity to more completely realize their vision of placing needy and deserving families in decent houses. The grant also makes provision for the chapter to have professional help as needed in areas such as law, finance, project management and strategic planning.

“We have certainly been a successful organization as witnessed by the houses we have already built in the county,” said Debbie Farrell, board president, “and we welcome this chance to hone our operation and increase our effectiveness.  There is an enormous need for affordable housing in this county and we are committed to making the biggest dent in this problem that we can.”

Habitat for Humanity of Colorado awarded the grant after a competitive application process because the committee felt strongly that the Chaffee County chapter was ready to move to the next level of production, and willing to implement organizational change.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Date for “Ground Breaking”  April  5 (Saturday)

“Habitat Builds Colorado”  April  19 (Saturday)

While you are here, click on  “How can I help” to VOLUNTEER and/or DONATE

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CHAFFEE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RECEIVES
GRANT FROM THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS

A Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grant will make it possible for Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity to build two affordable housing units in 2008.  The Habitat affiliate plans a duplex on West Main Street, Buena Vista, with groundbreaking as early as possible this spring and construction continuing through most of the year.

Thrivent for Lutherans has given new meaning to “corporate generosity.”  Already one of Habitat for Humanity’s largest supporters through the $105 million Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance, Thrivent Financial has announced an increase in this four-year commitment to $125 million.  Of that amount, $23.2 million will be used in 2008 to build 322 Habitat homes in 42 states.  Additionally this year the alliance will support more than 200 volunteer teams that will help build houses on the Gulf Coast and abroad.

“At the beginning of the alliance we committed $105 million, but actually budgeted an additional $20 million that we could add later if the alliance proved successful,” said Senior Vice President Brad Hewitt of Thrivent Financial.  The $20 million increased commitment is in response to the interest and involvement of thousands of the nearly three million Thrivent Financial members and the successes of the alliance since it was formed in 2005.   Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity brings together more than 1600 Habitat affiliates and 1362 Thrivent volunteer chapters.  In 2006 and 2007, the first two years of the alliance, more than 650 families in 46 states and Washington, D.C., achieved the dream of home ownership through this partnership.

Through the alliance, Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity has been awarded 65% of the funds necessary to build one unit of the planned duplex.  As is policy for Thrivent grants, the unit sponsored by Thrivent will be built by volunteers of whom at least half will be Lutherans and a quarter will be local Thrivent Financial members.  The two Lutheran churches in the county, First Lutheran in Salida and Faith Lutheran in Buena Vista, in addition to supplying volunteers, will raise 10% of the cost of this unit.  Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity will contribute the additional 25% for that unit as well as raising the entire amount for the other half of the duplex.

“We feel extremely fortunate to have this chance to build this additional home,” said Debbie Farrell, President of the Board, Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity.  “Many people may not realize that almost 30% of families in the county live on incomes of less than $30,000 a year, and of that group, almost 10% of households have incomes of $10,000 or smaller.  Each house makes a difference and Thrivent Financial has given us a great opportunity to be more effective in resolving the affordable housing crisis in Chaffee County.”

“It makes a difference to Thrivent and our members that we can help more families with this large step toward economic self-sufficiency, said Bruce Nicholson, Chairman, President and CEO of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  “Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has provided us a way to positively affect so many people’s lives – both now and in the future.  Our members have supported our involvement by volunteering by the thousands.  We are all proud of this alliance and the positive impact we can make together in the coming years.”

“Our members have a wonderful chance this year with both money and muscle to make a concrete difference for a deserving family,”  said Gary Martin, President of the local Thrivent Financial chapter.  “The alliance of Thrivent with Habitat is simply a winning combination for everyone concerned.”

Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity  is in the final phase of interviewing the families that have applied for the two units and will announce the results in February.  Each applicant family will have completed six hours of volunteer work, and each of the families who are selected will contribute 400 hours of “sweat equity” on their unit.  As with all Habitat homes, each family will be sold their homes at cost and provided with a mortgage that carries no interest.

To follow the progress of the local Thrivent project, or to contribute time or money to this or other Habitat initiatives, please visit http://chaffeehabitat.org.

About Habitat for Humanity International.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing.  Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people.  For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit membership organization helping nearly 3 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities.  As a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need.  For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.

For more information, please contact Dick Cuyler at 719-539-3214.