Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity is partnering with long time sponsor, Thrivent Financial to build a home alongside a local family. Volunteers, neighbors and supporters will raise the walls on the home at 3112 32nd Ave. S., Moorhead on Saturday, July 16th, at 11:30 am. Wall Raising Celebrations mark the beginning of the build by celebrating with the future homeowners, volunteers, build sponsors and the neighborhood. They also launch the Blitz Week, a week of building that will complete the exterior of the home.
Malike his wife, Bebi, and their children are excited for their next dream to become a reality. The family is currently living in an apartment building, which Malike says is a nice home for which he’s grateful, but nothing can compare to owning a house.
“My family is very happy to have the opportunity to have a Habitat House,” Malike says. “In an apartment we don’t have much space for the kids to play or to play outside. But if you have your own house your kids can run outside!”
Malike and Bebi came to the United States from a refugee camp in Tanzania. Malike says they spent years applying to come to the United States for a fresh start after fleeing the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six years ago they came to the United States and became citizens in June. In October, through the help of Habitat, the family will have a new home of their own.
“We are happy,” Malike says. “We are going to have a house soon.”
Like all Habitat homeowners, Malike and his family will be required to contribute more than 500 hours of “sweat equity, complete our award winning homeowner educational course and repay the cost of the home though a 0% mortgage. Those payments, along with donations and proceeds from the Restore, are used to build future homes.
This home is the 17th home in Cass/Clay counties that Thrivent has sponsored, contributing more than $1.3M to help local families build strength, stability and self-reliance.
Neighbors, volunteers, and sponsors are welcome to come meet the family, participate in the Wall Raising Celebration and stick around for lunch.
