Thrivent Builds is a financial, volunteer and advocacy partnership between Thrivent Financial® and Habitat for Humanity® International. The multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership includes three programs under the Thrivent Builds umbrella:

• Thrivent Builds Homes – Thrivent Financial will sponsor the construction of Habitat homes and seek to engage thousands of volunteers in Habitat home-building projects. 50 percent of the funding for each Thrivent Builds home will come from Thrivent Financial with the remaining funding coming from the continuing fund-raising efforts of local Thrivent members and Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
• Thrivent Builds Worldwide – Thrivent Financial members and other volunteers will participate on short-term (one- to two-week) trips of members and other volunteers to build homes domestically and internationally

Wayne Eller
Executive Director

My dear friends, every child who gets tired at night should have a decent place to lay its precious head. Each building season more children of your struggling neighbors benefit from East Central Minnesota Habitat's program. We have now built homes for 140 little ones and their respective parents. Allow me to profile just three of several families that with your help, Habitat for Humanity built new homes!

Although the parents of all these children were hard working, the fruits of their labor did not allow them to escape their housing situation.

The first of these is a wonderful family of eight children and their remarkable mother; all of which were living in a terribly deplorable overcrowded and unsafe housing situation that threatened their health. Their courageous mom is a cancer survivor. Our second profile is of a family of four who lived in a mold infested house trailer with caving leaky ceilings and collapsed floors. The third is a family with six children. Three of those children are autistic and two have cystic fibrosis with many special needs. The family's finances forced them to make do in a two bedroom house.

God’s protective merciful compassion and tender Divine respect for children is clear and instructive throughout the Old and New Testaments. Perhaps you have a favorite verse that paints a mental image to demonstrate God’s Love for those in need of His grace. Allow me to share mine.

It is the metaphor used by Jesus (Luke 13:34) as he drew upon the pastoral experience of his listeners and compared himself to a vigilant and instinctively protective mother hen. “…How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings…”

Habitat volunteers, donors, and those who support with their prayers have gathered these children under their protective wings to build them a safe decent affordable home; a place to lay down their cares and sleepy heads.

We are currently taking applications for two homes in Sandstone. One of which could be for a US military veteran with a service related disability. We will select 2 hardworking deserving families to become new homeowners of safe, decent, energy efficient and affordable homes in Sandstone. “We are requesting that disabled veterans and other families interested in applying for Sandstone contact us as soon as possible,” Says Executive Director Wayne Eller. “The qualifying income levels vary with the size of the family. The selected families’ incomes must be sufficient to repay affordable house payments of roughly $550 to $750 per month. These payments will include their taxes, home insurance and traditionally zero percent interest mortgages.” Eller adds, “Each family must be willing to invest 265 hours of their own labor to help build the house; building skills are not necessary. We will show the family what to do.” Individual volunteers and professional construction trades men and women are respectfully encouraged to join the fun and excitement working alongside the selected ‘homeowners-to-be’.” Families interested in applying and volunteers who wish to help are invited to contact ECM Habitat’s toll free number at 1-866-600-0288 or by e-mailing Habitat at chabitat@ecenet.com.

Listed below is an outline of the basic family selection criteria. Please read through these initial criteria and decide if you feel you fall within these guidelines and are interested in partnering with Habitat. If you have any questions call our office toll free at 1-866-600-0288 or email us at chabitat@ecenet.com

FAMILY SELECTION GUIDELINES:

• A willingness to partner: You, your family, or someone you select must work a combined total of 265 hours (this labor is called “sweat equity”) on the building of your home. Once moved in, you must be a good steward of your home.

• A housing need: You must be currently living in inadequate, over-crowded, or substandard housing. Your income must be too low to secure conventional financing, but sufficient to make monthly payments required on a no-profit, traditionally no-interest ECM Habitat for Humanity mortgage.

• The ability to repay: an affordable no profit loan on the home including taxes and insurance.

• Residency requirements: You must have LIVED within our five county service area for at least one year prior to the date on your application (counties include Pine, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Isanti , and Chisago.)