Rifle, Colorado, October 6, 2009- Yesterday was World Habitat Day — a special day for us to raise our voices and declare that the terrible lack of worldwide decent, affordable housing is unacceptable. Locally, Businesses and community volunteers are again putting on their hardhats rolling up their sleeves and eagerly putting sweat and time into building another affordable home for a local family in need with Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley (HFH-RFV). The walls are up and the build is looking more and more like a home as each volunteer day passes on Coal Mine Ave.

Come Saturday you will find Maria building alongside all of the other volunteers on her new home, during the week you may also catch her swinging by the jobsite to drop off lunch or treats for the volunteers to express her appreciation of the work they are doing for her and her boys. Maria and her two boys were selected, as all HFH-RFV partner families, based on their housing need, an ability to repay a no interest 20 year mortgage, willingness to put 250 hours of sweat equity into the construction of her home, and legal residency.

Maria came to HFH-RFV in hopes of providing a better life for her boys, following an unexpected divorce and costly health issues. Currently, she is living in a bedroom at her parents’ home with her two young sons along with other family members. “I am eager to have space for my two boys (4 and 2) to run around and play like little boys should, without being in such a tight space”, says Maria

When not on our jobsite building she is the smiling face that many encounter as they come in Grand River Medical Center in Rifle.

The Rifle community has been instrumental in making dreams of home ownership a reality for Habitat for Humanity partner families. Kuersten Construction has been a key supporter of our projects, starting with the duplex we built on 17th street that was completed last spring, they have worked with us to make sure our projects remain affordable and are completed with the utmost care for our families. Local businesses have come out to make a tangible difference in their community: Wells Fargo bank, Starbuck’s, St. Mary’s Church and the Rifle Chamber Women’s group just to name a few. These teams have come to the site and built for the day alongside their peers as well as our partner families and other regular volunteers. The Rifle Correctional Center has also embraced our project- sending work crews out twice a week. Without the outpouring of community support, these projects would not be possible; we are continually delighted by the new partnerships that we have been able to create through our involvement in the Rifle community. It truly takes a community to build a home!

Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley is now accepting applications for our next two homes on Coalmine Ave. We are looking for families that have a current housing need, steady income of $20-48,000, willingness to partner with HFH-RFV in building your new home, legal resident, and live or work from Aspen to Parachute for at least the last year. Applications can be found online at HabitatRoaringFork.org or picked up at our ReStore in the Cattle Creek Center between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Applications are due on October 14th, please pick one up today or encourage someone you know to apply!

About Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley

Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with partner families, sponsors, volunteers, and communities to eliminate substandard housing in the Roaring Fork Valley while serving as a catalyst to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Since 2000, HFH-RFV has built seven homes and plans to complete seven more in the next 2 ½ years. HFH-RFV also has a ReStore in the Cattle Creek Center that resells new and used building materials, appliances, furniture, and household items.