The need for affordable housing is increasingly urgent, and the people of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church are doing their part to help. The church has been partnering with Habitat for Humanity for over 15 years to make adequate housing a reality for families in the Twin Cities and internationally.
Most recently, the church helped build a five-bedroom, two-bath home in South Minneapolis. The project began in July and finished in October. Mount Olivet sponsored three days of the build with the help of nearly two dozen volunteers from their church alongside other local congregations and organizations.
The church makes it a priority to help meet critical needs in the community.
“The hardest part is knowing that one house won’t solve the housing crisis, but it’s good to know that [Habitat for Humanity] is making an impact in some way within the community,” says Mount Olivet pastor Joel Bergeland.
With the goal of providing safe, stable and affordable homeownership to low-to-moderate income families across the metro area, Habitat for Humanity offers financial coaching towards mortgage readiness, homeownership classes and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for families, says Kaitlyn Dormer of Habitat for Humanity. In the past year alone, the organization helped 114 Twin Cities families achieve home ownership.
Volunteers often have the opportunity to meet the homebuyer family. “It is incredibly humbling and humanizes the experience when you are able to meet the family prior to them moving in,” says Bergeland.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
12235 Old Rockford Road, Plymouth
Facebook: Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth
Instagram: @moplychurch
Twitter: @moply
