Habitat project just waiting for donations

For more than two years, Habitat for Humanity volunteers have waited for enough money to turn weedy land in Post Falls into a cozy new neighborhood for a dozen working-poor families.

They’ll have to wait a little longer.

Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho began planning its first subdivision in June 2002 with the purchase of 1.65 acres north of Interstate 90 just off McGuire Road. The land has room for 12 modest homes plus a small park, said Mariann Bethke, Habitat vice president.

Permits and approval for the ambitious project are in hand, but the money isn’t.

“We estimate we need about $250,000 for the streets, sewer and lights we have to put up before we can build,” Bethke said.

The Post Falls project will cost about $1.2 million over three years. The nonprofit Habitat chapter plans to build four houses a year with money from grants, donations and loan repayments from 15 other homes it has built, Bethke said. It also will use money raised in Habitat’s building supply thrift store, which amounts to about $30,000.

Bethke figures the organization needs to raise another $740,000 to finish the project.

“We’re going to need a lot of help,” she said.

North Idaho’s Habitat usually builds three homes a year with low-cost materials, donations and volunteer labor. Habitat homes cost an average of $46,600 in the United States. Families chosen to buy them need an income to pay their interest-free mortgages, which Habitat carries. Habitat uses mortgage payments to buy land and build new homes.

Families also invest “sweat equity,” building their homes along with volunteers.

Next month, Habitat of North Idaho will celebrate the completion of its 19th home. Wells Fargo Bank granted $17,500 toward the Rathdrum house. Bethke said Habitat has applied to Wells Fargo for a similar grant for the Post Falls project.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association has reserved $120,000 for Habitat’s subdivision, but Habitat won’t receive the money until the work is done, said Reed Hollinshead, association spokesman.

Habitat isn’t worrying yet. Volunteer Rick Buchheit said he’s working with a Seattle firm that sandblasts paving stone for a special deal on pavers Habitat can personalize and sell to raise building money. Habitat plans to use the stones for a walkway through its subdivision. The pavers will cost $50 each.

“People can put messages in the stone,” Buchheit said. “We’ll show them to people at the home and garden show that’s coming here next month.”

The Habitat subdivision is worth the wait for the money, Bethke said.

“We usually end up with 60 to 80 applicants for each house,” she said. “We have people who don’t care where they live as long as they can get on the list. There’s a need.”