Local Habitat for Humanity gains new partnership

Habitat for Humanity of Springfield and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Kansas/Missouri Region are joining a $21.7 million house-building effort to construct more than 300 affordable homes this year, according to a news release.

Not-for-profit Thrivent Financial is offering $42,735, or 70 percent of the cost, to build the Springfield home. Through the partnership, Habitat is challenged to raise 20 percent of the cost, while local Lutheran churches will raise the remaining 10 percent, said Anna Codutti, Habitat's local director of development. Construction is expected to begin in the fall, Codutti said.

Habitat for Humanity of Springfield was chosen among 265 affiliates to receive Thrivent funding and volunteer aid.

The Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans partnership on a national level will build up to 312 homes in 2006, representing about 6 percent of Habitat's annual home production. During the four-year agreement, Thrivent Financial is expected to invest $105 million for Habitat home construction. In Kansas and Missouri, $579,353 is set aside for 10 new homes.

“We're eager to step up our efforts to reduce substandard housing in Greene County,” said Fred Hollich, manager of Lutheran Community Services for Thrivent Financial in the Kansas/Missouri Region. “Our volunteers are ready to get started and are looking forward to working with others in their communities.”

In addition to the Thrivent volunteers, the local Habitat affiliate is seeking volunteers to help build the 18-acre Legacy Trails about a mile north of Interstate 44, east of Highway 13.

A plot of good news has come Habitat's way recently, as the local affiliate this month received the largest single gift in its 18-year history - a $455,000, 19,000-square-foot South Scenic building donated by Keltner Enterprises - which will be used as the Habitat ReStore and office/warehouse space, and a $200,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development for infrastructure development at Legacy Trails.

“It's going to be a real exciting year for Habitat,” Codutti said, noting that the 10 homes slated for 2006 would be the most the local Habitat chapter has constructed in a single year.

Habitat started locally in 1988.