In just one word, Karen Melang can sum up Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity’s efforts: “Amazing.”
“I can’t help but think about the people who formed Habitat in this community,” said Melang, the executive director of the local chapter. “I can’t imagine a day where they thought they’d build
50 homes.”
By year’s end, Fremont’s Habitat chapter will have done just that — built 50 houses since forming in 1993.
“It’s an amazing tribute to this community,” Melang said.
To mark the first 50 houses, Habitat is hosting a celebration from 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday at 411 W. Fourth St., the site of the 50th home.
Hot dogs, chips and beverages will be served and there will be music and children’s activities, including face painting and balloons.
Gov. Dave Heineman is scheduled to speak along with some of the homeowners. The ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Sunday’s event is free and open to the public.
Fremont’s chapter of Habitat earned its affiliation with the national organization in 1993. By July 1994, volunteers had constructed the first home.
Some of those volunteers still are part of the building crew today.
“We’ve had people who have stuck by us,” Melang said.
Along the way Habitat has picked up additional volunteers, especially for projects such as Blitz Builds in 1999, 2002 and 2006 and Thrivent Builds in 2007 and 2009.
In Blitz Builds, crews construct a home in about a week. Thrivent Builds are funded through a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans with 65 percent of the cost of a home coming from the national organization and another 10 percent from the local group.
When the 2009 houses are sold, 275 people -- including 174 children -- will have be housed in a Habitat home.
Homeowners must meet certain economic and needs criteria and, if selected, must perform “sweat equity” by working on their home and other houses. Homeowners also make monthly mortgage payments. A typical Habitat mortgage is for 20 years at zero interest, but can be extended up to 30 years.
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