Businesses give boost for Habitat

Much attention in the last few months has focused on Habitat for Humanity's efforts to rebuild homes in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

But the nonprofit is hard at work locally, too, and thanks in large part to sponsorships from businesses is finishing construction on the largest group of houses the group has ever built at once.

Habitat is building 13 homes in Stead on land donated by the city of Reno.

One house is completed, and eight are under construction.

If all goes as planned, the nonprofit will start work on the remaining four homes in the fall.

To date Habitat has completed 21 homes in the Reno-Sparks area.While some have been built on nickel-and-dime donations, a growing number locally have been made possible through company sponsorships.

The businesses donate the cost of materials about $70,000 per home and their employees volunteer time to help build.

Finding skilled building supervisors is difficult in the hot construction market, but fund-raising remains the greatest challenge, especially when there are so many other needs, such as hurricane relief, says Christine Price, executive director of Truckee Meadows Habitat for Humanity.

Company sponsorships of entire homes help put construction into high gear.

"You really feel like you make a difference," says Michael Dermody, chief executive officer of DP Partners, sponsor of a Habitat home now under construction.

A mother and father with five children will live in the new home.Now the family lives in a duplex where the 10-gallon water heater regularly malfunctions, the floor has a hole in it, and the roof leaks.

The family, supported by the father's $10.50-an-hour job, can't afford to move to better conditions.

Dermody says DP Partners, an industrial developer,was drawn to Habitat for Humanity's strong track record in providing direct services to families.

"It was something our entire company could support," he says.

Many of the employees have volunteered their time on Saturdays to help on the construction site.

Dickson Realty co-sponsored a house with Home Depot and Charles Schwab Bank last year.

"I don't think we ever drive by it without tears in our eyes," says Dickson Realty President Nancy Fennell."It's such an affair of the heart."

Nancy Muniz, Charles Schwab Bank's community development manager, says Habitat's mission was a perfect fit for the bank's commitment to help residents afford their own homes.

The volunteer time on the construction project was good for employees, too.

"You get a real feel for how important it is to the families." Centex Homes not only donated cost of materials but all the labor to build a home.

Citibank sponsored two homes and co-sponsored one home with Arrow Electronics.

PMI Group Inc.

sponsored one home, and Bank of America sponsored two homes.Many other businesses have donated toward houses.

"I'd really like to see more banks jump on board with this," says Matt Anderson, Bank of America's vice president and senior client manager.

He says the bank was drawn to Habitat's mission as well as its efficiency."A dollar goes a long way." Habitat bills itself as a hand up, rather than a hand out.

Qualified low-income homeowners must put in 500 hours of volunteer time toward building their homes.Habitat sells the homes at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans.

Families must put down 1 percent toward the loan and pay the monthly mortgage payments, which with taxes and insurance are about $400 a

month about half the average rent in the Truckee Meadows.