Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteer groups who want to donate some manual labor for a day to help finish building homes for families waiting to move in.
Susan Brubaker, program manager, said anyone who wants to schedule a group day to volunteer should contact her at 720-496-4124.
“They can schedule any day they want, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Sunday. We are really looking for volunteers to come to the site,” she said.
On Oct. 26, Brubaker, a Habitat homeowner, joined other Habitat homeowners to work on a project in Kittredge, where several duplexes have been built.
She said the idea was for families who have been Habitat homeowners for several years to show support for those waiting to move into the duplexes at 26230 and 26232 South End Road.
“Sometimes the public doesn’t understand the process people go through. They are raising kids, maybe single-parenting with three jobs. We said, ‘Let’s get together and show support for them,’ ” Brubaker said.
She said items on the to-do list include prep work for drywall and some interior painting.
Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is a homeownership program that serves mountain areas of western Jefferson County, Clear Creek County and parts of Park County near Bailey. The nonprofit, an affiliate of the International Habitat for Humanity, helps low-income families build and buy their own homes by offering affordable mortgages set at 30 percent of gross monthly income.
Approved adults in the family must put in at least 250 hours of labor on their home or another home. Volunteers in groups can sign up on the website to participate in a build day.
Skilled supervisors and crew leaders are on site to help guide volunteers.
The current project is different from other local homes because it was the beneficiary of a statewide design contest through the Colorado Chapter of the .
The winning design was created by the Denver-based firm .
According to Brubaker, the 1,250-square-foot home has more sustainable and green features than previous Habitat homes.
Support for the nonprofit comes from multiple sources, including individuals, businesses and churches, as well as the ReStore sale shop in Bergen Park.
Donations of materials and know-how are vital to house projects. A large part of funding for one-half of the duplex under construction comes from , a financial services company and fraternal benefit society.
Kathleen O’Leary, executive director, said Thrivent pays around 55 percent of the cost of the house and the local Habitat and Thrivent raise the remaining 45 percent.
Pam Thomas, president of the board of Blue Spruce, said the local chapter also commits to substantial volunteer work on the house. AIA is sponsoring the other half through cash and in-kind donations.
She said she was surprised at the perception some people have that families are given homes.
“They buy those homes. We arrange financing they can manage,” Thomas said.
Karen Groves: 303-954-2303, kgroves@denverpost.com
