WHAT: S/E Habitat House Dedication Ceremony
WHEN: Saturday, June 24, at 10:00 AM
WHERE: 4869 A Street, Springfield, OR
Springfield, Ore – Single mom Nayeli and her twelve-year-old-daughter Alitza will be joined by Springfield Mayor Lundberg, partners from the forest products industry, and Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity (S/E Habitat) supporters as they are handed the keys to their new Habitat home on Saturday, June 24, at 10:00 AM, at 4869 A Street in Springfield.
An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, S/E Habitat is dedicated to the principle that everyone in our community deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. “There is a serious shortage of affordable housing in Lane County, with many families spending half of their income or more on rent. Homeownership is a critical part of the solution to this problem. Helping low-income families build and purchase their own homes at affordable prices helps them build equity and long-term financial stability, and it also frees up subsidized rentals for other families in need,” said Don Griffin, Executive Director of S/E Habitat.
Nayeli’s home was generously sponsored by the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC), a non-profit trade association based out of Portland. AFRC represents lumber manufacturers and forest landowners in five western states, with a major presence in Lane County and the Eugene/Springfield area. AFRC and its members provided locally-manufactured lumber and wood products, volunteer hours, and cash donations to build Nayeli and Alitza’s home.
“This project embodies what the forest products industry is all about,” said Travis Joseph, president of AFRC, who was born and raised in Springfield and attended Springfield public schools. “We work in the woods, care for our public lands, and make local, environmentally-friendly products every Oregonian depends on every day – including the lumber for our homes. Our members care deeply about the communities in which they live, work, and play and this project is another reminder of that commitment. We are honored and thrilled to be using our members’ local products and expertise to build a home for Nayeli and her daughter Alitza – they could not be more deserving.”
In partnership with S/E Habitat, Nayeli completed over 300 hours of volunteer “sweat equity” including helping with the construction of other Habitat homes, homeowner education courses, and building her own home. Now that the house and the program requirements are completed, Nayeli will purchase her home with an affordable Habitat mortgage that sets her monthly mortgage payment at no more than 30% of her income at the time of sale.
The ceremony will include presenting the family with a key to their new home. Remarks will be made by Habitat for Humanity, AFRC president Travis Joseph, Nayeli, the future homeowner, and her friends and Family Advocate.
“Donors and volunteers are the key to building Habitat homes. Nayeli’s success story is possible because of AFRC and the generous contributions of all its members, including substantial donations from Swanson Group, Timber Products Company, Roseburg Forest Products, D.R. Johnson, JW Bamford, Oregon Women in Timber, and Freres Lumber,” said Griffin.
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About the American Forest Resource Council
AFRC is a regional trade association whose purpose is to advocate for sustained yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health and resistance to fire, insects, and disease. AFRC does this by promoting active management to attain productive public forests, protect adjoining private forests, and assure community stability. It works to improve federal and state laws, regulations, policies and decisions regarding access to and management of public forest lands and protection of all forest lands. The ultimate goal of AFRC’s programs and initiatives is to advance its members’ ability to practice socially and scientifically responsible forestry on both public and private forest lands.
About Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity
Habitat is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Since 1990, S/E Habitat has built more than 55 houses and completed 15 home repairs. S/E Habitat is one of nearly 2000 affiliates worldwide that have built over 800,000 houses serving over four million people in need of safe, decent, affordable housing. Springfield/Eugene Habitat’s ReStore accepts donated new and used building materials, furniture and home improvement items for resale to the public with proceeds supporting Habitat’s work to increase affordable housing in the community. Call Habitat at (541) 741-1707 for more information and to learn how you can help.