Groundbreaking on Habitat for Humanity home in Carbondale set for December 9th

Smith family eager to begin building their home alongside local Habitat volunteers.

Carbondale, CO, December 4, 2007 – Get your shovels ready. Habitat for Humanity plans to break ground on their latest homebuilding project at the Cleveland Place II subdivision off of 8th Street in Carbondale on Sunday, December 9th at noon. Ceremonies will include an introduction to homeowners and partner family, the Smith's, as well as a tentatively scheduled address from Carbondale Mayor Michael Hassig.

Jeff and Colleen Smith and their family were selected, as are all Roaring Fork Valley Habitat partner families, based on their housing need, an ability to pay a no-interest mortgage (usually around $500-600/month), and legal US residency. Additionally, Jeff and Colleen are each required to work 250 hours of "sweat equity" towards the actual building of the house.

According to Colleen Smith, "We're so excited to start building our home and the kids are thrilled about the prospect of having their own rooms. Mostly, we're just glad to have a place to call our own without the fear of having to pack up and move again." Currently, the family of seven shares one 12-by-14-foot room they rent from a church friend for $500 a month.

The two-story, single family home will be built in the Cleveland Place II subdivision in Carbondale. The home will be constructed by Habitat's volunteer base and will include eco-friendly heating solutions. Photovoltaic solar power technology and solar heated water will reduce heating expenses and cut carbon emissions. The solar heating option for the Carbondale home came to Habitat courtesy of a $25,000 grant from The City of Aspen and Pitkin County's Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP).

Started in 2000, REMP has raised over seven million dollars by requiring new homes in Pitkin County to mitigate their environmental impacts by either installing a renewable energy system or paying a renewable energy mitigation fee. REMP grants are available for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within the Roaring Fork Valley. The Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) makes recommendations for grant recipients and manages the fund on behalf of REMP. According to Gary Goodson, Executive Director of CORE, "I'm thrilled that REMP funds are helping the valley's most worthy recipients. The Smith's energy bill should be extremely low and their alternative energy solutions will help hedge against future energy rate increases."

Work days for the Smith's home will be scheduled beginning in January. Individuals or groups interested in volunteering to help build the home can contact Habitat for Humanity at 945-7733 or via email at [ email ].

About Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley
Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley (HHRFV), an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. HHRFV builds new houses in partnership with homeowner families, sponsors, volunteers, and communities to eliminate poverty housing in the Roaring Fork Valley while serving as a catalyst to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. In 2008, Habitat plans to build a single-family home in the Cleveland II subdivision in Carbondale and a duplex in Rifle and has recently opened a ReStore Building Supply store in Carbondale. For more information, visit www.habitatroaringfork.com.