BLUE EARTH -&160;New homes at more affordable prices may soon become easier to find in Faribault County, as a new affiliate of Habitat for Humanity is being organized for both Faribault and Martin Counties in Minnesota.

Monday, January 07, 2002

BLUE EARTH -&160;New homes at more affordable prices may soon become easier to find in Faribault County, as a new affiliate of Habitat for Humanity is being organized for both Faribault and Martin Counties in Minnesota.

&uot;We did some research and found out that 13 percent of homeowners in Faribault County pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing,&uot; said the Rev. Ed Nieman, one of the organizers of the new Habitat chapter. Another 40 percent of Faribault residents rent their homes, he said.

&uot;There is definitely a need for affordable two- and three-bedroom houses, and that type of house is where Habitat centers its efforts,&uot; said Nieman.

Nieman, members of the Blue Earth Ministerium and other county residents have been working on this for more than a year now, and Nieman feels the communities have finally gotten to the point where things can get started.

An organizing meeting is planned for 3 p.m., Sunday Jan. 27 in Winnebago, at the First Baptist Church, located at 205 W. Cleveland. Any interested Faribault County residents are invited. More information is available by contacting Rev. Nieman at (507) 653-4565.

Nieman is co-pastor of the United in Faith Lutheran Parish, a collection of five churches located in and around Bricelyn and Frost. Before coming to Faribault County, he served a congregation in Fergus Falls and was involved for many years in the work of the Fergus Falls Area Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

A Habitat for Humanity home is not seen as just a handout. Families invest many hours of their own labor into the building of their home and the homes of others. Monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund that is used to build more houses.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Since its founding in 1976, it has built more than 60,000 houses around the world, providing some 300,000 people with safe, decent, affordable shelter. There are more than 1,700 Habitat affiliates in 57 nations.