Habitat Launches Construction Season At Hard Hat Breakfast
Community partners and donors meet to discuss local needs.
Mankato, MN May 2, 2024 — Habitat for Humanity hosted its third Hard Hat Breakfast gathering with community members to discuss local housing needs. With the generosity of donors and volunteers, Habitat continues its commitment to building affordable housing in South Central Minnesota, with new builds starting in Mankato, North Mankato, Nicollet, and St Peter in 2024.
Hard Hat Breakfast is a celebration of the new construction season and a time to discuss local needs. Anne Mavity from Minnesota Housing Partnership gave the keynote discussing affordable housing needs in Minnesota and Blue Earth County and the increasing gap between those needing housing and new homes being built. In Blue Earth County, a median-income household cannot afford an average-priced home, and there is an increasing gap between capacity and those in need. Habitat for Humanity has been impacted by this gap and the rising building costs. In building season 2021-2022, the average cost of building a Habitat home was $208,000. Habitat homeowners could afford a mortgage of $208,000 on average. However, in the last building season, 2023-2024, the average cost of building a Habitat home increased to $290,000 while families could only afford a mortgage of $266,000. Local supporters and donors remain vital to building new homeownership opportunities for hard-working families.
“Habitat remains committed to finding creative solutions to the housing crisis and building new homes,” says Sondra Herman, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity South Central Minnesota. Hard Hat Breakfast was made possible by Bremer Bank, H&H Development, Radio Mankato, and many other generous sponsors. More details about the event and sponsors can be found at habitatscmn.org.
Sponsors: Bremer Bank, Radio Mankato, H&H Development, Eide Bailly, Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union, Leonard Heating & A/C, Web Construction, Lindsay Windows & Doors, Farrish Johnson Law Office, and Premier Title Services.
About Habitat: Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity South Central Minnesota has built 145 homes and 630 individuals in Blue Earth, Sibley, Watonwan, Le Sueur, and Nicollet counties. Through shelter, we empower. Interested in donating or volunteering to support the Mankato build? Visit habitatscmn.org.