Thank you, Sheboygan.

Habitat for Humanity Lakeside’s 52nd home is complete and ready for its new family. We’re proud of this accomplishment and proud of our new strategic plan, which will ramp up home building to five a year.
 
How, you might wonder, is it possible for Habitat for Humanity Lakeside to build one simple, decent, and affordable new home a year, let alone five?

Two major ingredients: One is our financing model. The other is the overwhelming support we get from businesses, organizations, and individuals.
 
Let’s start with the financing model. Habitat homes aren’t free. The three criteria for prospective home buyers are need, their ability to pay, and their willingness to partner. Approved homebuyers must contribute 250 hours of sweat equity toward building the home and receive financial education. Once the home is built, they receive an interest-free mortgage based on 23 percent of their adjusted gross income.
 
The second ingredient: Overwhelming support of our mission from Sheboygan-area residents, organizations, and businesses. Donated lumber, flooring, appliances, plumbing supplies, paint, drywall, and other house-building necessities. Thousands of labor hours donated by skilled electricians and plumbers as well as people who love to build things.
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Nothing we do is possible without this generosity. Everyone's commitment to our work enables us to give people a hand up, not a handout, as we like to say.
 
Next week, we’ll turn this space over to the family scheduled to be the newest Habitat for Humanity Lakeside partner family. Right now, we thank the kind and compassionate people and companies for their contributions to our newest home.
 
Richard and Kristin Bemis and their family for their generous financial and in-kind sponsorship of the home, given in loving memory of Austen Bemis.
 
Kohler Company, Poly Vinyl, Color Guard Railing Systems, Whirlpool, Levolor, Pella, Sherwin-Willams, Steven Tenpas Drywall, Schneider Electric, Heim Plumbing, Drexel Building Supply, JF Lopez Roofing, Baumann Excavating, Amerhart, IBEW Local 2150, Wisconsin State Sheet Metal Workers Local 18, and IBEW Local 494, for in-kind donations of building equipment and skilled volunteer time.
 
Altrusa International for the home’s bookcase and books.
 
Meijer for the dedication celebration’s refreshments.
 
The individuals, church groups, and corporate teams who volunteered their time and talents to build this home.
 
Thank you. We’re breaking ground on our 53rd home later this year and we can’t wait to see you again.

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