Habitat starts building more Columbia Falls homes

Families and volunteers are preparing to build eight more Habitat for Humanity townhomes in Columbia Falls and held a special groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Thursday.

The homes are being built in part with a $360,000 grant the city of Columbia Falls secured from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant will help pay for construction materials.

“With its small-town values of neighborliness, Columbia Falls has been a perfect partner,” said Christine Morris, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley.

“Children of Habitat families are able to walk to school and parents find it easier to raise their family in a close-knit community. The city should be commended for its commitment to make affordable housing available for Flathead Valley families.”

Valued at about $2 million overall, the project in Columbia Falls is shaping up to be the organization’s largest to date, Morris said.

Six townhomes already have been built by families and volunteers on Mitchell Way. 

Two more families are on track to finish and move into their new townhomes in June. 

In all, 16 townhomes will be built in the Columbia Falls neighborhood. Architect Virginia Eudy designed the homes.

The remaining eight townhomes must be finished before March 2015 to fully utilize the grant money.

Volunteers contribute about 3,000 hours to build each home. That includes at least 500 hours of “sweat equity” put in by people buying the finished homes, which are sold at cost.

“We figure we need almost 50 people per week on the site,” Morris said of the work ahead. “We’re building Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. But if anybody brings a group of three or more we will build on any other day as well.”

Home ownership provides stability for the families and helps them and their communities realize their full potential, Morris said. People are encouraged to get involved and help build the homes, all of which are built to meet stringent Northwest Energy Star standards.

Habitat for Humanity works on the houses year-round but is entering its busiest time of the year.

“You can paint, do landscaping. People shouldn’t be frightened,” Morris said. “There’s someone there supervising. So even if you’ve never held a hammer, you can still show up.”

Other money for the affordable housing projects comes from donations, grants and the organization’s ReStore outlet. It sells salvaged construction materials, appliances, home improvement materials and furniture and recently moved into a larger location at 2610 U.S. 93 near Murdoch’s.

A grand opening for the new ReStore location is scheduled for June 4.

People interested in volunteering or donating can call Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley at 257-8800.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.