ST. CHARLES, Minn. – The Habitat for Humanity organization has cleared a financing hurdle to build 11 houses in St. Charles for families who can’t find affordable housing. The financing is through an incremental taxation agreement with the city. Habitat-built housing, all basic structures for first-time buyers, are in the city’s South Fork Fourth addition. Construction of the first houses begins next year, Habitat announced. Funds from the Biden American Rescue Plan Act figured into the deal.
Habitat profile
Habitat for Humanity of Winona County is a nonprofit organization to eliminate substandard housing. It’s part of a global initiative started by President Jimmy Carter after he left iffice. Habitat relies largely on volunteer labor for construction, including that of each home-owner. Habitat also operates the ReStore is at 900 West Third Street to collect recyclable construction materials.
Key players. In the St. Charles project: Karl Sonneman, attorney; Buffy Beranek, Southeast Minnesota Multi-County Housing Redevelopment Authority executive director; Amanda Hedlund, Habitat executive director; Adam Muschler, Habitat family selection coordinator; and Lee Ann Riehle, attorney.