(Photo above courtesy of Habitat for Humanity)
Bend Area Habitat for Humanity is honored to partner with the Central Oregon Association of Realtors (COAR) and Ashley Furniture Home Store on The House That Real Estate Built. A Home Dedication will celebrate the hard work of Liz’s family, COAR, Ashley Furniture Home Store and Bend Area Habitat for Humanity on Thursday, December 8 at 11:30am at 2857 NW Huettl Lane, in Bend.
The Central Oregon Association of Realtors and Bend Area Habitat for Humanity have partnered for many years but the Association had never fundraised for a whole house. We decided the timing was right for a full house sponsorship beginning in the fall of 2015 for a home for Liz’s family. COAR has been fundraising ever since and has nearly met the goal of $75,000! This cost does not include land and system development charges.
Said Dave Feagans, Alpine Real Estate and COAR Board President, “The entire Real Estate related community generously gave from their hearts and wallets to help improve the lives of a very deserving family and program. Habitat for Humanity works in harmony with the values shared by our association; making this goal and project a perfect match.”
“I’d like to say it was challenging to raise the money, but frankly the real estate community here welcomed us with open arms. When we reached out to make an ask at each real estate office, not one office turned us away. Not one! Realtors, Builders, Lenders, Title, Inspectors, Appraisers. It didn’t matter. All the partners banded together as one unit and raised the money with ease. I love this community!” said Derek Meyer, Prime Lending and COAR Public Relations Committee Chair.
Earlier this spring, Bend Area Habitat was contacted by Ned Church, a long-time volunteer of Bend Area Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and current employee of Ashley Furniture Home Store. He said the new owner wanted to partner with a nonprofit for 2016 and donate a whole house of furniture and they selected Bend Habitat! This has been an incredible surprise and blessing to us and Liz’s family. The furniture will be on display in the new home Dec 8.
We are grateful for so many in our community that come together on every home we build to make it possible for us to serve people in need of affordable housing in Bend. Our program provides families an opportunity for a hand up, not a hand out. Our program requires that each family contribute 500 hours of sweat equity (volunteer time) and attend monthly financial education classes. Once the home is complete and the family’s requirements are met, we sell the home to the family with a mortgage payment never more than 33% of their monthly income. We hope you will join us to celebrate the next completed home for Liz and her family on Dec 8!
What: Home Dedication
When: Thursday, Dec 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Where: 2857 NW Huettl Lane, Bend, OR 97701
Contact: Robin Cooper Engle, rcooper@bendhabitat.org, 541.508.8681
About Bend Area Habitat for Humanity
Bend Area Habitat builds strength, stability and self-reliance through homeownership opportunities for qualified, deserving families so that they can realize the dream of affordable homeownership. Over the past 27 years, Bend Habitat has built 115 homes and repaired 60 more, providing more than 600 children and adults a safe, secure and healthy home. Bend Area Habitat also has a ReStore, a used and surplus home improvement center, in Bend, that accepts and sells a wide variety of building materials, appliances and home furnishings. All proceeds from the ReStore benefit Bend Habitat’s mission. www.bendhabitat.org, 541.385.5387
