This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley has issued a press release to the Longmont Observer regarding the Habitat for Humanity’s AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon occurring next week, June 5-9.
Boulder, Longmont, Berthoud, Loveland, CO. (June 2, 2017) – During the week of June 5-9, Habitat for Humanity’s AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon will welcome to Colorado more than 100 AmeriCorps members representing 13 states. Members will build and landscape twelve homes alongside local families in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, Berthoud Habitat for Humanity, and Loveland Habitat for Humanity. This is the second year in a row that Colorado has been chosen by Habitat for Humanity International as a host site for the event.
Every year, AmeriCorps members and alumni from across the country travel to select cities to help local Habitat for Humanity organizations meet the need for decent and affordable housing in their communities. As part of the event, more than 250 Habitat AmeriCorps members will also travel to Des Moines, IA in May and June to build homes alongside nine future Habitat homeowners.
“AmeriCorps members serve a critical role for Habitat by mobilizing volunteers, building capacity, helping communities recover after a disaster and engaging families and veterans,” said Peter Rumsey Jr., Director of National Service, Habitat for Humanity International. “The AmeriCorps program is vital to Habitat’s mission and our ability to provide cost-effective solutions in order to meet community needs. I’m inspired every day by our AmeriCorps members and their impact on affordable housing.”
Local Build-a-Thon projects will support ReBuild Colorado, Habitat’s long-term disaster recovery initiative that was started in response to the devastating Front Range floods of 2013. All projects are located in communities impacted by the floods and still in the long-term recovery process.
- Nineteen AmeriCorps members will work with Flatirons Habitat for Humanity on the Wonderland Creek project in Boulder, helping to complete two new homes. Several members are expected to work on a flood recovery project in Jamestown as well.
- Twenty-one AmeriCorps members will work with Berthoud Habitat for Humanity on the construction of two new single-family homes in Habitat’s 4th Street subdivision. They will also complete landscaping projects on two homes that were constructed earlier this year.
- Fifty-five AmeriCorps members will work with Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley in the Poplar Grove subdivision in Longmont, helping to build two new townhomes. Five to ten of the members will also be working on a repair project in The Glens neighborhood of Dacono.
- Fourteen AmeriCorps members will be working with Loveland Habitat for Humanity in the Sierra Valley subdivision. They will be dry walling one unit and landscaping a second.
“We are so happy to have the AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon back in Colorado this year,” said Chris Bibbo, ReBuild Colorado Director. “We’re extremely grateful to the AmeriCorps members for their service. Their efforts this week will give our construction schedule an important boost and help further Northern Colorado’s ongoing recovery from the floods a few years ago.”
AmeriCorps is a network of National Service programs that engage more than 80,000 Americans of all ages and backgrounds in intensive service throughout the U.S each year. National Service programs, such as AmeriCorps, are funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Since 1994, more than 9,500 Habitat AmeriCorps members have served roughly 26,000 families and provide 16 million hours of service. AmeriCorps members serve a critical role for Habitat affiliates by mobilizing volunteers, helping communities recover after a disaster, and engaging families and veterans.
About ReBuild Colorado
ReBuild Colorado is a collaborative partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Colorado and neighboring Habitat for Humanity organizations serving Northern Colorado. The program was initiated in response to the 2013 floods with the goal of serving flood-impacted families and communities through a combination of new home construction, repair, and housing rehabilitation projects. Across the flood-impacted region, forty repair projects have been completed on flood-damaged homes and nearly 120 new Habitat homes are complete or in progress. Habitat’s efforts have been supported by $6 million in federal CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding allocated by the Colorado Division of Local Affairs. For more information, contact Chris Bibbo at 303-454-8965 x5; 303-818-3079 or [email protected].
About Habitat for Humanity of St. Vrain Valley
Established in 1988, Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley is a local organization of Habitat for Humanity International and is in full agreement with that organization’s Foundational Principles. HFHSVV is dedicated to partnering with families in need of decent and affordable housing in the towns of Longmont, Lyons, Dacono, Frederick, Firestone, Mead, Niwot and Erie. For more information, visit www.stvrainhabitat.org.
About Flatirons Habitat for Humanity
Founded in 1993, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity is a local organization of Habitat for Humanity International. Its goal is to transform lives and communities by building simple, energy-efficient, affordable homes in partnership with families living in the Boulder Valley and Broomfield communities. Our program is a hand up, not a handout. Through shelter we empower. Your financial support, your time and your voice help bring independence to families in our community in need of a decent place to live. For more information, visit www.flatironshabitat.org.
About Berthoud Habitat for Humanity
Founded in March 2000, Berthoud Habitat for Humanity is a local organization of Habitat for Humanity International. Its mission is to work in partnership with God and people in the region, from all walks of life, to develop our community with people in need of decent, affordable housing with families in the Berthoud area. For more information, visit www.berthoudhabitat.org.
About Loveland Habitat for Humanity
Loveland Habitat builds strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. The agency has built more than 130 homes in Loveland over the past 30 years, and is currently building new homes in the Sierra Valley subdivision. For more information about Loveland Habitat, homeownership and volunteer opportunities, go to their website at www.lovelandhabitat.org or call (970) 669-9769.
About the Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps and Senior Corps and leads volunteer initiatives for the nation. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
Contact:
Chris Bibbo
Habitat for Humanity of Colorado
303-454-8965 x5 or 303-818-3079
www.habitatcolorado.org
