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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 27, 2006 Grant doubles Habitat's projects Habitat for Humanity normally builds two homes a year in the valley for low-income families By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A $95,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity's local affiliate will double the organization's affordable housing projects in the coming year. More volunteers are needed to put up four Habitat homes in Medford and Ashland, said Ron McKinley, board president. Needy families already are in line for the dwellings on Ashland's Garfield Street and Medford's 11th Street, the latter possible with a recent award from Thrivent Financial, a Lutheran benefit society. Habitat typically constructs two local houses each year with the cooperation of prospective residents, who contribute 500 hours in "sweat equity," McKinley said. Families move in with a mortgage of about $80,000 but pay no interest over its lifetime, McKinley added. Community donations have funded the Garfield Street townhomes, a partnership with the nonprofit Ashland Community Land Trust, said Habitat Executive Director Denise James. The Thrivent grant cemented a third project on 11th Street, which Habitat will supplement, and a fourth unit was added in the interest of cost-effectiveness. The total cost for all four homes is around $400,000, James said. A direct-mail campaign that went out to 28,000 local households earlier this month aims to raise additional funds needed for the projects. Construction is expected to finish in December 2007, McKinley said. Advertisement "Everything depends on the number of volunteers we get," he said. "We're going to have to get a little creative." Habitat has about 200 active volunteers who work Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays on the group's various projects. No experience in building is needed, but professional contractors and church groups commonly pitch in, McKinley said. "There's a lot of volunteers who have never swung a hammer in their life," McKinley said. The Thrivent project requires that 50 percent of the workers are Lutheran, James said. Habitat is a worldwide Christian ministry that welcomes participation from all faiths. Habitat has earmarked another large contribution from an anonymous donor to purchase land for more projects, James said. She declined to quote the dollar amount, but said one parcel of property likely would consume the gift. Habitat aims to construct a six-plex on the wished-for parcel, similar to a Central Point complex completed in January this year. Volunteer applications can be completed online at www.roguevalleyhabitat.org . Donations for Habitat for Humanity can be mailed to P.O. Box 688, Medford OR 97501. For more information, call 779-1983. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com