Like It Because You Can't Love It

On November 28th, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver launched a four week Like It Because You Can’t Love It Facebook campaign. This campaign is to celebrate the Habitat Home Improvement Outlet’s transition to the nationally-recognized ReStore brand. As such, we are excited to launch our Habitat Denver ReStores page, and even more excited to offer our fans huge incentives just to “like” us on Facebook.

What are huge incentives? The Like It Because You Can’t Love It Facebook campaign will give away weekly $50 in-store gift certificates redeemable at any of our three metro Denver ReStore locations for the first three weeks to one randomly selected fan off of our new Facebook ReStores page. For the final week, the Like It Because You Can’t Love It campaign will be giving away one gift certificate to one fan equal in dollar value to the number of fans we have collected, up to $1,000. In other words, if we have 200 fans, someone will get a $200 gift certificate, 333 fans, a $333 gift certificate, up to 1,000 fans/$1,000 dollars.

Well timed with the holidays, this give-away means you could get all of your holiday shopping covered. Likewise, if you encourage friends and family to like our new page and one of them wins, you might find yourself the recipient of a much upgraded holiday gift as well.

The Facebook ReStores page is a great place to find out about events, new inventory, sales and special deals for our followers. We look forward to seeing you there!

Help Habitat "Raise a House" on Colorado Gives Day

Tuesday, December 6^th is the second annual Colorado Gives Day!  This is the opportunity for Colorado residents to give where they live, and Habitat Metro Denver is trying to raise enough funds to build an entire house.  With temperatures dropping into negative degrees, this is the time of year that we’re reminded of all of the families who aren’t living in warm and safe homes.  Help us make a difference for another family who’s struggling this year.

It costs Habitat Metro Denver $85,000 in construction materials to build every Habitat home.  A generous couple has already pledged $40,000, which means that we’re almost halfway to our fundraising goal!  Help us get the rest of the way there and see what your gift can help build this year! Help a family get the home of their dreams by clicking here to pre-schedule your donation, or remembering to donate on December 6^th to Habitat Metro Denver.

New Faces at Habitat

Meet Sarah Hatfield

We couldn’t be happier to introduce Sarah Hatfield as the new Human Resources/Risk Management Manager. Sarah has a lot on her plate in her new role, but she is looking forward to all the excitement of working with the Habitat team.

What is your history with Habitat? Sarah first got involved with Habitat when an organization she worked for in Kansas City volunteered on a home build there.

What does the Human Resources/Risk Management Manager do? On the human resources side of her job, Sarah does things like administer benefit programs, produce the payroll, create policies and procedures, oversee compliance with employment laws and help with training, development and recruiting. As the Risk Management Manager, she administers safety and insurance programs and makes sure the organization is in compliance with OSHA regulations.

What is your favorite part about working Habitat? “The people,” Sarah says. “It’s a great staff. Everybody seems to be here for the right reasons.”

What are you looking forward to? Sarah says she is looking forward to “being a good resource for employees” and “helping them develop their potential.”

Meet Sarah Mansell

We here at Habitat are also very excited to welcome Sarah Mansell, the newest Family Selection Specialist, to our staff. Her work here is helping to put deserving families in homes across Metro Denver. Read below to see what she likes most about her new job.

What is your history with Habitat? Sarah’s background is in human services and she says that she has always known about Habitat. “I really admired the mission,” she said.

What does the Family Selection Specialist do? Sarah is involved in everything from holding orientations and recruiting families to researching and marketing properties to selected families. Other parts of her job include writing proposal letters, working with the Selection Committee, talking to families and tracking the reasons they choose to accept or reject a property, doing home interviews and getting started on Habitat’s NRI project.

What is your favorite part about working at Habitat? Sarah is enjoying getting to meet new people and hearing their stories. She recently met with a family at the Globeville open house where she was able to explain Habitat’s homeownership process to them. “Watching it become real for them—like, ‘This is going to be our house’—was really cool,” Sarah said.

What are you looking forward to? Sarah can’t wait to see the family selection process run through a whole cycle, from orientation to dedication, so she can get a better picture of how it all works.

Habitat Staff in Haiti

Four Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver staff members left their cozy Denver homes earlier this week to travel thousands of miles to Léogâne, Haiti, where they are contributing their time and effort on the 2011 Carter Work Project. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, established the Carter Work Project in 1984 in order to raise awareness for the crucial need of affordable housing around the world. Right now, the former president and his wife are working alongside Habitat volunteers from around the world, including the four from Metro Denver, to create clean, safe and affordable homes in this Haitian city.

Here is what one of our staff members, Katie McKenna, has to say about the experience so far:

Léogâne, Haiti—Day 3: Roof Day!

One of the most satisfying days on any Habitat build is roof day. Suddenly, a skeleton of a house becomes a structure that is warm and dry. Today was the third day of the Carter Work Project here in Haiti and it was roof day. Standing on the roof of the house I was working on I could look over a sea of 100 houses and watch them magically begin to look like homes. I could begin to imagine the children that would live there, backyard gardens that might be planted and the meals that would be shared. Down on the ground, there was nothing magical about it—it was the hard work of 400 sweaty Habitat volunteers who had come to Haiti to build homes for 100 families in great need of permanent housing.

Lots of love from Haiti,
Katie

Stay tuned to hear from more of our staff members as they continue on their journey of building homes for the people of Léogâne. If you would like to learn more about the 2011 Carter Work Project, click here.

Home for the Holidays

With the weather cooling off and the stores beginning their big sales, we can’t help but be reminded that the holidays are right around the corner. For many of us who are looking forward to gathering with our loved ones, the holiday season brings to mind the meaning of home. For some, a home is a place to get together with our friends and family; for others it means having a warm place to sleep at night. For everyone, though, a home should be a safe and comfortable place where one can live happily and healthily. Unfortunately, there are still many families in the metro Denver area who are missing out the true feeling of home.

Denise and her three children are one such family. They have moved every year for the past six years, always in search of a place they can call “home.” At their current apartment, they are constantly exposed to drug users and dealers and are far from any decent schools. Denise’s oldest son is visually impaired and has to walk 20 minutes across busy streets just to get to the bus stop every day. This holiday season, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has partnered with this special family to give them the gift of homeownership. The family’s new home will be closer to the children’s schools and will provide them with the safety and stability they have always dreamed of. “Being able to purchase a home of our own is the best gift we could've hoped for this Christmas,” Denise said.

Help us provide homeownership opportunities for more families like Denise’s this holiday season. Visit Home for the Holidays to read Denise’s full story, make a gift online, and learn about ways you can help.

Littleton ReStore Grand Opening!

One week from today, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s newest ReStore opens in Littleton!

Join us next weekend, Friday Nov. 4^th and Saturday  Nov. 5^th, for a grand opening celebration at all three of our ReStore locations in Denver, Wheat Ridge and Littleton. We will christen the Littleton ReStore with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Then stick around for a weekend of sales, giveaways and fun as we celebrate this newest addition.

Visit any of the three stores between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to enter for your chance to win new stainless steel refrigerators, a $500 Frontier Airlines gift card and hourly ReStore gift certificate giveaways. Local radio station, 99.5 The Mountain, will be providing live coverage on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Plus, don’t miss out on the free hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Littleton ReStore.

Come support HFHMD and enjoy a great weekend with your friends and family!

What: Littleton ReStore Grand Opening

When: Opening Celebration on Friday, November 4^th at 9:30 a.m., doors open at 10 a.m

Special events on Saturday, November 5^th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: All three Metro Denver ReStore locations

Littleton: 7900 W. Quincy Ave, Denver, CO 80123

Denver: 70 Rio Grande Blvd, Denver, CO 80223

Wheat Ridge: 10625 W. I-70 Frontage Rd, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Where are you getting your pumpkins this fall?

Help Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver turn pumpkins into homes this Halloween. Three different pumpkin patches in the Metro Denver area will be donating a portion of their pumpkin sale proceeds to Habitat’s homeownership program.

In past years, these donations have earned over $35,000 for Habitat homes. Head on down with your family to one of the sponsored patches and help us raise even more money this year. Every pumpkin purchased at one of these locations will help a family in need receive the home of their dreams.

When: October 8 - 31
              10am to dusk
Where: Mile Hi Church at Garrison & Alameda, Lakewood
Sponsor: Jeffco Partners for Interfaith Action

When: October 9 - 30
              Weekdays 12 - 6pm, weekends 10am - 6pm
Where: St. James Presbyterian Church, 3601 W. Belleview Ave, Littleton
Sponsor: Carpenter's Helpers

When: October 15 - 31
              10am to dusk
Where: Arvada Center at 68th & Wadsworth, Arvada
Sponsor: Jeffco Partners for Interfaith Action

When: October 15 - 31
              10am to dusk
Where: Central Christian Church between Colorado Blvd & University, Denver
Sponsor: Habitat Interfaith Alliance

Join us for Habitat's first annual Opening Doors Auction!

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s first annual Opening Doors Auction is fast- approaching. This week, visit the Denver ReStore to preview the talent of thirty-five artists who have turned used doors, windows, and cabinets from the Habitat ReStores into pieces of art. These used home building materials have been reworked, refigured, and repurposed into one-of-a-kind artwork, each defined by its artist’s unique style.

Please join us as these re-creations are auctioned off at a complimentary wine and cheese event on October 9^th at the Denver ReStore. The funds raised at this event will help open doors of homeownership for low-income families across metro Denver.

What: Opening Doors Auction

When: October 9^th, 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Where: Denver ReStore

70 Rio Grande Blvd., Denver, CO 80223

Check out some of the awesome pieces that have been submitted so far...

Door by Dean McCready

Door by local artist

Bed headboard by local artist

Window by local artist

New Faces at Habitat

Meet Laura Allen-Hatcher

We are also happy to welcome the new Grants Administrator, Laura Allen-Hatcher. Her first few weeks here have been a whirlwind, but she says she has a lot to look forward to working here. Read on to hear it in her own words.

What is your history with Habitat? “When I was in college, I took a construction class at Arapahoe Community College. I really enjoyed just learning carpentry in general. Then I decided that I would volunteer on a Women’s Build project with Habitat to continue practicing my carpentry as well as volunteer with an organization I was somewhat familiar with. I really enjoyed that.

“My other contact with Habitat has been in my previous role with the City of Aurora, I was a Community Development Programs Specialist. That entailed actually funding Habitat.”

What does the Grants Administrator do? “I go after federal grant funds for the purpose of acquiring properties and helping to pay for infrastructure work. So, I fill out the grant applications, work through the approval process once we get approved, and negotiate contracts with the jurisdictions of the cities, counties, and possibly the state for the federal funds that they’re offering. Then, once we’re contracted, it is a matter of making sure that we are complying with the contract. Also, I track the progress of the project, do reports, and, ultimately, do payment requests to the jurisdictions to get reimbursed for the money we’ve expended.”

What is your favorite part about working at Habitat? “I really enjoy the team atmosphere that I’ve been experiencing. I would say that the corporate culture here is much more friendly, open, welcoming, team-oriented. I think the energy that the organization has is very refreshing. Here, there are lots of new and interesting things going on. People are excited about working with you. Even though it’s hard work, they come with a lot of energy and a really great attitude. I’ve really enjoyed that part of it.”

What are you looking forward to? “I’m really looking forward to the day where I feel like I know it, I got it, I’m in some kind of flow. At that point, I can start to be more and more creative about what I do. It’s been a challenge, but everyday it starts to feel a little bit better.”

New Faces at Habitat

Meet Kate Hilberg

We here at Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver are excited to bring on Kate Hilberg as our new Real Estate Manager. Here is what she has to say about her experience working at Habitat so far.

What is your history with Habitat? “I volunteered for quite a while on the construction sites, as well as as a member of the Women Build Committee.”

What does the Real Estate Manager do? “I’m responsible for finding and purchasing land for the houses and making sure that we’re being a good neighbor. I do diligence on the properties to make sure that they’re something we can actually use, as well as any zoning or planning approvals that need to be put in place before we can build on the land. I hire or oversee the engineering and design work for the properties. Then I make sure that we get the infrastructure in place on the properties before the construction teams take over.”

What is your favorite part about working at Habitat? “The people. They’re really fun, engaging, nice, really committed to what they’re doing.”

What are you looking forward to? “Sable Ridge. That’s the really large, four-acre site with 51 units. It’ll be a challenge.”

Habitat Denver is nation's first affordable builder to partner on EPA's New Homes Programs

Jim Martin (EPA) presents Heather Lafferty (HFHMD)
with the 2011 EPA Partner of the Year Award.

September 14^th, 2011 was a cold and gray day in Golden, CO, but not even the threatening rain clouds could wipe the smile off of Wendy’s face at the groundbreaking for her new Habitat home. Not only did this day mark the beginning of a new life for Wendy, but it was also the first step in a revolutionary partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver (HFHMD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Wendy’s home will be the first affordable house in the nation to implement all three of the EPA’s home building standards into a single home. These three measures, ENERGY STAR, WaterSense and Indoor airPLUS, are meant to provide a cleaner home and environment, as well as drastically reduce utility costs for residents.

HFHMD has committed to building all future homes beginning in 2012 to the EPA’s New Homes Programs. We have been building our homes to the ENERGY STAR criterion for over a decade, which has saved residents an average of $200 to $400 in energy costs each year. By combining this with the WaterSense and Indoor airPLUS design, HFHMD hopes to create even more efficient and safe homes for our residents.

Dozens of EPA and HFHMD members joined together with Golden residents to celebrate this momentous occasion at the groundbreaking ceremony. Golden Mayor Pro Tem, Karen Oxman, was there to welcome Wendy to the neighborhood. EPA Regional Administrator, Jim Martin, and HFHMD CEO, Heather Lafferty also spoke about the importance of building energy efficient homes.

Wendy said she is so grateful to be working with HFHMD and becoming the first homeowner involved in this initiative. “I couldn’t ask for anything more!” she said.

Habitat's Women Build Featured in the Denver Business Journal

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s Women Build program was featured in the Denver Business Journal’s “Outstanding Women in Business” last month. The journal recognized the incredible support Habitat receives from this group of over 600 women.

Women Build’s goal each year is for at least one home to be completely built and funded by women volunteers. Since 1995, the group has completed 20 homes for low-income families in the Metro Denver area. This year, they are taking on a two-story duplex, east of Sloan’s Lake. Such an ambitious project has required twice the normal amount of daily volunteers, but Habitat has seen no shortage in turn-out. “We’ve had an amazing amount of support this year,” said Jill McClure, chair of Women Build, in the article.

Click here to read the full article and to discover the remarkable impact the Women Build program has on families and its women volunteers.

Click here to watch a video featuring activity on the Women Build site and details about this fun program.

Summer Home Dedications

To build a Habitat home, volunteers, staff, partner families and sponsors come together to make a difference for a low-income family who dreams of owning a home. Using hammers, nails, paint brushes and power tools, selfless individuals build doorways to brighter futures. Habitat partner families come together to help build their homes and the homes of others and create a sense of community that may have been absent before. This summer, join Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver as we celebrate each beautiful home and the amazing accomplishments of many hard working individuals.

Habitat will host 7 total home dedications in Denver and Aurora this summer. Partner families will have the opportunity to speak about their work with Habitat, cut the ribbon on their new front doors and receive the keys to their homes. After the ceremony, stay for a tour of the homes and celebrate with Habitat staff, friends and family.

For information on when each home dedication will take place, click here. Also, connect with us on Facebook to hear about more upcoming home dedications, other Habitat events and how you can become involved with our organization.

Extreme Makeover: Habitat Edition

On Saturday, July 30^th, thirteen families in the Globeville neighborhood partnered with 100 Habitat volunteers to make a difference in their community. Working in conjunction with Extreme Community Makeover (ECM), Habitat volunteers and Globeville homeowners addressed repair needs by working on painting, yard cleaning, yard maintenance, fence repair and concrete. Stepping forward with positive, can-do attitudes, Habitat volunteers made a tangible difference in the lives of these Globeville families.

“This partnership between Extreme Community Makeover and Habitat for Humanity is a great example of the impact we can collaboratively make by engaging community members – volunteers and homeowners – to improve the neighborhoods in which we live,” said Extreme Community Makeover Executive Director Angela Bomgaars.

Extreme Community Makeover coordinates volunteer teams to partner with underserved people to improve their own homes and neighborhoods. Partnering with ECM on this project has allowed Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver to engage our volunteers in a new way, serving additional families and expanding our scope of project work.

Click here to learn more about Extreme Community Makeover.  Or, click here to sign up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and help us continue to build homes and change lives throughout Denver.

Blues & BBQ for Better Housing this Weekend

This weekend, experience some of the best BBQ in Colorado and support Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver at the same time! Head out to Olde Town Arvada to experience great BBQ, shop for arts and crafts and hear blues and rock acts while helping to provide low-income families with a brighter future. On Sunday, July 17th starting at noon, the 14^th Annual Blues and BBQ Festival will feature 16 of Colorado’s best blues and rock acts on two stages and over 70 food, jewelry, arts and crafts vendors.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. As our longest running fundraiser, the event has helped raise over $50,000 for our organization. Help us make this year our best yet and come out to enjoy food, music and arts and crafts in the summer sun. Purchase tickets online or at the entrance for only $20.

New Faces at Habitat

Meet Corey Biechele

You may have seen Corey's friendly face around the Denver Outlet or construction sites during his time spent with AmeriCorps, but we are ecstatic to reintroduce him as Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver's new Deconstruction Supervisor!

Habitat History: Originally from Massachusetts, Corey studied Sports Management at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.  Corey volunteered in New Orleans about six months after Hurricane Katrina.  After observing the hope and perseverance amidst everything else in New Orleans, he knew he wanted to be a part of the rebuilding effort.  This led to him becoming involved with Habitat through AmeriCorps after graduating college in 2008.

  

Favorite part about working with Habitat: "I have met some of the most interesting, generous, smart, and engaging people through my work with Habitat for Humanity. I enjoy working with my co-workers, the volunteers, donors, and partner families to address the need for affordable housing in our community. Habitat provides me the opportunity to use my skills to directly impact deserving families and my community as a whole."

The Deconstruction Program (Q&A with Corey):

What are the size and scope of deconstruction projects you are involved with?

Our deconstruction projects range from small to large. We deconstruct kitchens and baths all the way to entire houses that are scheduled for demolition. We have projects that range from quick and simple to elaborate and extensive.

How many volunteers do you have currently?  Do you need more?

We have about 40-50 regular volunteers and we are always looking for more. The deconstruction program is rapidly expanding. To meet the growing demand we are consistently looking for volunteers who are interested in assisting Habitat in a unique way. However, we do ask that our volunteers do have some experience using power tools such as drills and saws.

How does the deconstruction program benefit HFHMD and the Outlets?

The deconstruction program not only benefits HFHMD and the Outlets but it also benefits the community and the environment. Our deconstruction program brings quality building materials to the stores that will be sold at a reduced price. The items in our stores allow individuals and families to make repairs, upgrades or remodels to their homes at an affordable price. The proceeds from the Outlet stores offset the overhead and fundraising costs of HFHMD so that all donations go directly to the building of homes. The Outlet stores are vital to being able to build wonderful new homes for families in our community.

In addition, the deconstruction program gives a second life to building materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Rather than throwing away perfectly good building materials, donors have the opportunity to donate to HFHMD in return for a tax donation receipt.

What opportunities do you see in the future for the deconstruction program?

The sky is the limit for this program. There is large opportunity to partner with individual donors, remodeling companies and other organizations to prevent quality building materials from going to the landfill and to provide the public with an affordable option for repairs, remodels or upgrades.

If you are interested in becoming a deconstruction volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Alice Goble, for more information – (303) 996-5468.

Meet a Partner Family

Heather and her Two Children

Born and raised in Denver, Heather works a full-time job, is pursuing her Bachelor's degree part-time and cares for her two children. After stretching every paycheck as far as it could go, she and her children are very excited to be moving into their new Habitat home.

Their current apartment is badly in disrepair. The family is worried that the bathroom ceiling will collapse from water damage and the kitchen cabinets fall apart when they are opened. Heather's daughter suffers from asthma and is affected when neighbors smoke cigarettes outside their apartment.

Heather and her children know all of this will change when they move into their new Habitat home. Her children are looking forward to playing sports outside and starting school in a new district. Heather is grateful that she has been given the opportunity to learn about construction and repairs during her sweat equity hours and is thankful for the opportunity to meet other Habitat families.

Heather would like to show that through hard work and determination, homeownership is possible. She's excited to be able to ride bikes and do yard work with her children in the future.

To read more about Heather and her children, click here. Also, consider volunteering with us and help to build a brighter future for our partner families.

The AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon

During the week of May 8^th, a team of Habitat’s AmeriCorps members traveled to Milwaukee to participate in a Build-a-Thon to complete 10 homes. Joined by hundreds of other local volunteers and over 80 other AmeriCorps members who worked around the country, the Denver team framed, sheathed, roofed and sided the homes in just five days.

AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs created in 1993 that engages more than 50,000 Americans each year in service in our communities. Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has 8 AmeriCorps members that help us build safe and affordable homes for low-income families each year.

For AmeriCorps member Leanna Powell, one highlight of her experience was working on the porch for a 21-year old single mother named Santana. Santana’s aunt, Licole, was talking about the house and how in one year they could be eating dinner on the porch with Santana’s daughter.

AmeriCorps members from 13 other states participated in the Build-a-Thon and helped build homes at 8 locations around the country, including Milwaukee. For more information on the AmeriCorps program, visit our website. To see a photo album of the Build-a-Thon in Milwaukee, click here.

Spring Cleaning with the Outlets

As the weather gets warmer, spring cleaning takes over. If you and your family plan to clear out basements, closets and cars, trash can pile up and crowd our landfills. However, this cleaning season, consider donating your materials to Habitat’s Home Improvement Outlets. The Outlets are a great community resource for accepting donations and reselling them back to the public at up to 80% off retail. Plus, all the net proceeds help fund Habitat’s homeownership program. Materials that the Outlets cannot sell will be recycled, saving tons of trash from going to landfills each week.

The Outlets also offer a deconstruction program to help you with your project. If you are planning to remodel or redecorate this spring, call the Outlets to schedule an appointment. A specialized team of volunteers will come out and help you organize and deconstruct materials that can be donated, load them on a truck and haul them away. The deconstruction program can reduce some of the demolition costs of your project and provide you with a tax donation receipt.

The Denver Habitat Home Improvement Outlets offer a wide variety of appliances, tools and other home improvement materials at both locations in Wheat Ridge and Denver. Find the materials to make your vision a reality and connect with the Outlets on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about sales and specials.

The 8th Annual Breakfast for Humanity

Last week, hundreds of Habitat friends and supporters got the opportunity to learn about the organization from table hosts and keynote speakers at our annual Breakfast for Humanity. The speakers included Habitat's Executive Director Heather Lafferty, Governor Hickenlooper's Chief of Staff Roxane White and the daughter of a Habitat homeowner Ann Padilla. Emcee Cheryl Preheim, an anchor with 9News, welcomed guests to the event.

During the one-hour breakfast, guests were introduced to Habitat's homeownership program and how it works to provide a sustainable solution to substandard housing. Each day, Habitat for Humanity builds 150 homes around the world. For Ann Padilla, the impact of Habitat and the hard work of her mother can be seen for generations. Click here to watch the video of her speech as she tells her family story.

A special thank you goes out to all of our table hosts, staff, sponsors and speakers who made the event such a success. For more information on the event, visit our website. Also, connect with us on Facebook to learn about more upcoming Habitat events.

Photos and videos by Chris Haugen. Click here to visit his website.

Celebrate Mother's Day with Habitat

A hard-working single mother, Stephanie, her two kids and her sister are looking forward to moving into their new Habitat home. Struggling to find adequate housing, she currently lives in a cramped house in Denver. She works for the Salvation Army to provide for her family and knows that her new home will bring stability to her families’ lives. She is so grateful for the opportunity to own her own home. This year, you can help mothers like Stephanie by celebrating your Mom and all that she’s done for you.

As our hard-working partner families struggle to find adequate housing, you can spend a day with your Mom helping to build a home. With affordable and safe homes, other moms and children will have a brighter future and a place to celebrate with their families. Also, consider making a donation to Habitat on behalf of your Mom this Mother’s Day. Your gift can provide nails, doors and even roofs for our homes that are under construction.

Celebrate all that Mom does for you by doing something unique for her and help Habitat build brighter futures for Moms all over the world.

For more information on volunteering and donations, visit our website.

Click here to connect with us on Facebook.

Ivanhoe Weekly Video Update

With the construction of 13 new homes set to begin in May and June, learn about some basic safety tips from our construction managers and volunteers before you sign up for your own build day. Show off your knowledge of power tools and hammers by inviting your friends to build with you.

After learning the safety basics, head out to one of our new sites with a group from your organization, business or nonprofit. Click to watch the video below and see how other groups are joining with Habitat to build decent and affordable homes for low-income families.

For more information on volunteering, visit our website. To learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, connect with us on Facebook.

Spring Home Dedications

This spring, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has much to celebrate. From April to the end of May, we will dedicate 11 new homes in Commerce City and Denver! Join us and hear from our partner families and watch as they cut the ribbons and receive the keys to their new homes.

Walsh Place
3186 and 3188 W. Walsh Place, Denver
Tuesday, April 26th at 5:30pm
Proudly sponsored by the Anschutz Foundation

First 4 Ivanhoe
7194, 7184, 7174, 7164 Ivanhoe Street, Commerce City
Tuesday, May 3rd at 5:30pm
Proudly sponsored by the Home Depot PSB and CHFA

69th Place
6993 and 6995 E. 69th Place, Commerce City
Wednesday, May 11th at 5:30pm
Proudly sponsored by Intrepid Potash and Xcel Energy

Last 3 Ivanhoe
7154, 7144, 7134 Ivanhoe Street, Commerce City
Tuesday, May 24th at 6:30pm
Proudly sponsored by Thrivent, Holy Hammers, Cisco & Partners and Anadarko

Habitat would like to thank our volunteers and staff who braved the cold weather to help hard-working families move into safe, warm and affordable homes. With the construction of 13 new homes beginning in May and June, visit our website to learn how you can sign up for your own build day.

Click here to RSVP for our spring dedications on Facebook.

Denver Habitat Young Professionals

Under the motto “work hard, play hard, give back,” the Denver Habitat Young Professionals is used to doing just that. A division of Habitat for Humanity, the group is about bringing young professionals together to make connections throughout Denver while helping give low-income families the chance to own a home. Members of the group help spread the word about Habitat through volunteering and fundraising.

But, staying true to their motto, the group also plans and participates in fun events such as happy hours, build days and other networking events to help members connect. Recruited by the visionaries behind the HYP Taylor Henderson and Kimberly Urish, member Adam Aldrich enjoys interacting with people the most. Working for Bennington Johnson Biermann & Craigmile, Adam has the opportunity to build homes for families and network with others. “There are several things that make a build day unique: the experience of helping to build a home for a family in need, interacting with that family who are completing their sweat equity hours and the opportunity to share that experience with friends and other members of HYP,” he said.

For those who can relate to the motto of “work hard, play hard, give back,” Adam recommends they attend the next HYP event. On April 14^th, the group will host a Happy Hour with drink specials that will benefit the HYP. Other ways to get involved include following HYP on Facebook, becoming a member or joining the Leadership Team by emailing Kimberly Urish for more information.

Click here for more information on the HYP and upcoming events. 

Building for Life - Health and Wellness at Habitat

While Habitat is famously a place to have an active, hands-on experience as a volunteer, many of our staff members spend their day supporting the construction sites and Outlet stores from behind desks. Our new Build for Life health and wellness program aims to create a healthy office culture that gets everyone moving more, eating better, and breathing deeper.

As part of the spring Build for Life challenge, the entire staff teamed up in groups of six, clipped on pedometers, and “raced” to Americus, GA, birthplace of Habitat for Humanity. The winning team racked up over 1,500 miles of walking, biking, and yoga in less than a month.  We are currently working on our "race" back to Denver.

Another favorite activity among Habitat staff members is the weekly yoga class held in the office lunch room. Organized by nonprofit Yoga for the People and led by coworker and certified yoga teacher, Margaret Bell, the weekly sessions are a way for everyone to unwind and focus during a busy week. Kristin, Habitat’s Family Selection Manager, says, “Our practice has been an amazing opportunity for us to come together as a staff to celebrate health, wellness, and each other. It has created a very supportive dynamic in which we can learn and play together in the middle of the work day.”

With workplace health and wellness a growing focus of corporations and non-profits alike, new research points to the many benefits of incorporating fitness into the workday. Our staff have already begun to feel the impact of the Build for Life program, from reduced stress to lost weight to new connections between departments.

We’d love to hear what other organizations are doing to encourage health and fitness.  Please comment here or on our Facebook page and tell us what you’re doing!

Meet a Partner Family

As volunteers and staff continue to work on the Ivanhoe project in Commerce City, meet a partner family who can't wait to move into their new Habitat home:

For Ali and Aliya, finding safety for their two young daughters is difficult, if not impossible for them at their current apartment complex.   Dangerous criminals and frequent assaults haunt the hallways and common areas throughout their Aurora apartment building.  In the 4 years that they’ve lived there, there have been 3 murders, including two people who were gunned down on the doorsteps to Ali and Aliya’s building.  And more recently, a woman was attacked and robbed in broad daylight in their parking lot. 

Ali and Aliya do everything they can to shield their daughters from the dangers that lurk outside their front door.  The girls spend much of their free time playing inside the small, 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom apartment since there’s no safe place to play outside.  In addition to the two daughters, Ali’s aunt Shabo (not pictured) also lives with them, making their apartment extremely cramped for the number of people in their family. 

Ali and Aliya can’t stop counting the ways that their lives are going to change when they move into their Habitat home this year.  “It’s such a great opportunity for our family,” Ali says.  He knows becoming a homeowner will impact their family immediately with more living space and a safe neighborhood, yet he’s also excited about the stability it will provide them for the future.  “We will finally feel settled.  Our dream is going to be true very soon – we are very happy.”

Ali and Aliya are both hard at work on their sweat equity hours and are enjoying learning new skills and seeing how the homes are constructed.  They are so thankful to be working with Habitat and looking forward to meeting their sponsor, Thrivent Financial and Holy Hammers, and the volunteers who will be helping them build their home.  “Thank you for giving our dreams a chance.  I have so many things to say to everyone helping.  This is such a great opportunity – thank you to everyone involved and for making a safe future for my family.”

To volunteer at the Ivanhoe project and help build Ali and Aliya's home, visit our website. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

As a green builder, Habitat gets to celebrate all year. As we continue to build homes with our partner families and volunteers, Habitat has become one of the greenest builders in Colorado. For over a decade, Habitat homes have been tested by the ENERGY STAR program and have consistently tested at the 5-star level. The E-STAR program helps homeowners save money and helps the environment through the use of energy-efficient products and practices. As a result of our green building efforts, ENERGY STAR is recognizing Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver with a national award in excellence in affordable housing.

Learn how it's done. Click to watch the video from Ivanhoe to see how materials are used to make a home more energy efficient. For more information on our green building practices, visit our website.

Habitat Home Improvement Outlets

For Habitat staff and volunteers, there’s never a typical day at the Habitat Home Improvement Outlets. With new donations coming in, the landscape of the warehouses in Denver and Wheat Ridge change from a sea of cabinets to refrigerators to antique televisions. With these new items to spark creativity, the Outlets go way beyond home improvement stores.

The Outlets accept donations of new or used home improvement items and sell them back to the public at up to 80% off retail. The recycled materials reduce the amount of trash in local landfills and reduce waste from remodeling projects. Funds from the Outlets cover 96.8% of Habitat’s administrative costs and allow other donations and sponsorships to directly fund Habitat’s homeownership program. Alongside Habitat staff, volunteers at the Outlets can sign up and bring their own creativity and skills to the stores. Volunteers organize, paint, move furniture, test appliances and help with group projects. With the departure of one AmeriCorps group and the upcoming arrival of another, the Outlets are constantly changing. This time around, the Denver store got a facelift with some new paint.

Weekly specials and deals for friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter help unique items sell fast. Upcoming events like the Denver Home Show will feature materials from the Outlets and attendees can enter to win hundreds in gift cards to shop at either location.

“People will often come in looking for one thing and end up leaving with two others,” said Denver Outlet Manager Jerry Arnold. “It becomes almost like a treasure hunt and people get excited about what they might find.”

Visit the Outlets on Facebook and Twitter for deals, events, new donations and pictures. For more information on the Outlets, click here.

Ivanhoe Weekly Video Progress

With the help of our regular construction volunteers, Habitat has been able to build countless homes for hard-working, low-income families. Last week at Ivanhoe, some of our regular volunteers took the time to talk about how they became involved with Habitat and what they enjoy the most about spending their time out on a build site.

This week at site, our construction manager Ian explains how different nails are used for different materials and projects while building a house.

Show off what you learn! Become a regular construction volunteer or sign up with a group of friends to teach them your home-building skills. Click here for information about signing up to volunteer and click here to connect with us on Facebook.

Habitat Needs You

Help us save AmeriCorps and critical funding!

The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 1, which is legislation that cuts government spending. Unfortunately, these cuts include the elimination of the Corporation for National and Commuity Service, and significant decreases to housing and community development budgets. These cuts would drastically affect programs like ours that build and sell homes to hard-working people in need of decent and affordable housing.

If the bill is passed by the Senate and signed by the President, some of the impacts include:

·    The elimination of all AmeriCorps and direct service programs beginning in 2011 – 2012

·    A decrease of more than $5.7 billion from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget

·    Cuts to the public housing capital fund by more than 40%, endangering public housing households, more than half of whom are elderly and/or disabled, and more than 40% of whom have children

·    Cuts to the Community Development Fund from $4.45 billion to $1.5 billion

Habitat Metro Denver has relied on support from direct service organizations like Americorps since 1998, with more than 89 Americorps members having worked with us to increase capacity and build more homes. In addition, Habitat Metro Denver and other affordable housing organizations rely on funding from HUD through HOME Funds and CDBG to carry out our work.

Representatives and the President will have opportunities to shape the final spending package. We need your help to ensure that these critical services are not cut from the budget!

Ways you can help:

• Call your representative and tell them why you oppose H.R. 1 -Click here to see how your representative voted
• Visit www.saveservice.org and sign up to participate in "Save Service District Day" on Friday, February 25th.
• Help spread the word through social media on Facebook at www.facebook.com/saveservice or Twitter.
• Call your Senators and ask them to pass a Continuing Resolution that restores funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and other critical funding for housing and community development. Talking points and call instructions can be found on www.saveservice.org/pages/actioncenter.