News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters Habitat for Humanity will break ground on its 15th and 16th homes on Sunday, February 4.
Jennifer Knowles and her family will reside in one of the duplexes located at the intersection of Washington and Cedar streets (behind Sisters Pumphouse). A family has yet to be selected for the second unit in the duplex, according to Habitat manager Sharlene Weed.
Weed said the Habitat chapter, founded in 1991, is poised to serve many more families in coming years.
"We now have sites for 11 families," Weed said. She also indicated that the chapter is working on acquiring still more land.
The success of the chapter, which has a dedicated core of volunteers, has created some challenges, Weed acknowledged.
"We're hoping to kick out more houses and it's getting to be too big of a job for our volunteers," Weed said.
With that in mind, the organization is seeking a paid construction supervisor to handle their spring building campaign. The chapter closed applications on January 19.
Through the use of donated building materials and volunteer labor, Habitat provides a way for people of limited means to become homeowners. Part of the requirement to become a Habitat homeowner is that the owner put their own labor or "sweat equity" into their project.
The Sisters chapter has been a signal success. The chapter is supported in large part by funds raised through the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store on Main Avenue.
After a small crisis in which a lack of volunteers threatened to curtail operations earlier this winter, the thrift store continues to thrive, providing quality goods at low prices and funneling the proceeds back into Habitat projects.
"The Catholic Church came through with 11 volunteers, which is really good," Weed said.
For more information on Sisters Habitat for Humanity, call 549-1193.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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