Elder Construction, Neenan Archistruction and Brinkman Construction have joined forces with Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity on a project focused on builders supporting builders. The initiative, called Hard Hats for Habitat, will be the first of an ongoing collaboration focused on AEC industry partners working together to sponsor and build future Habitat homes. The partnership supports the belief that strong and stable homes help build strong and stable communities. Together, the companies have committed to raising $100,000 to sponsor the cost of building a new home for a hardworking Fort Collins family.
Last week, those involved in the initiative, Habitat for Humanity representatives, and the community, gathered for an official groundbreaking of the new home. As of the groundbreaking, the companies announced they are conducting a final push to meet their fundraising goal. The funds already raised were donated through the generous support of trade partners, subcontractors, employees, other general contractors, and other friends and business partners in the community.
The house is located within the Harmony Cottages community, the largest development in Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity’s history. The new 1,200 sq ft. home will feature two bedrooms, two and a half baths, and be on one side of a two-story duplex. So far, Habitat has closed on 16 homes in the neighborhood, including an additional five, currently under construction, and four more foundations going in this fall. The neighborhood will have 48 total homes once completed; 22 of which are duplexes and four single-family ranch-style homes built in partnership with Poudre High School.
The local family selected for the home was chosen through Habitat’s affordable homeownership application program. Their goal is to help households living on modest incomes realize the full financial and social benefits of owning a home. The program utilizes donor support to help subsidize the costs of the house, while homeowners repay their mortgage loan monthly based on 28% of a households’ gross monthly income. Those payments are then recycled into a fund to help build more Habitat homes in the community.
As one of the largest homebuilders in the nation and the world, Habitat for Humanity utilizes local companies in the industry with volunteer labor and grassroots funding to accomplish their mission. Elder, Neenan and Brinkman loved the idea of using their resources and expertise to support the great work that Habitat does day-in-and-day-out.
“The support and partnership of our local construction industry has been remarkable,” Kristin Candella, executive director and CEO of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity said. “Our work is made possible because of the support of our community, and this model partners Habitat with the folks who literally build the community that we value so much.”
This collaboration will now turn their efforts of raising beams and supporting dreams towards the construction of the home by providing volunteers for build days throughout the fall. Walls will be raising in October and completion is set for late summer 2022.
Click here to donate towards the sponsorship of the house.
Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
