Editorial:

After a hiatus, new Habitat home project brings hope

Posted 10/8/19

Where ashes once smoldered, a new beginning will arise on North Day Street. That’s the promise from Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity as it recently demolished an old house that was damaged …

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Editorial:

After a hiatus, new Habitat home project brings hope

Posted

Where ashes once smoldered, a new beginning will arise on North Day Street. That’s the promise from Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity as it recently demolished an old house that was damaged in a fire to clear the site for a new home.

It’s encouraging to see Habitat for Humanity moving forward with plans to build in Powell. While the local nonprofit has completed houses in Cody in recent years, a Habitat home hasn’t been built in Powell since 2007.

While we’ve appreciated the services (and jobs) that the organization has offered to the community through its two Powell stores, we’re pleased to see Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity again advancing its core mission.

Part of the challenge for building in Powell is securing land. Within the city limits, it’s difficult to find an available parcel. Habitat found a solution that’s basically a win-win: An old condemned structure that stood vacant since 2017 was removed, making the lot available for a new house that will improve the neighborhood.

Most of all, the project will be especially beneficial for the family who will live in the new home once it’s completed. Habitat is accepting applications from local residents through Oct. 15.

It’s important to remember a key focus of Habitat: It’s a hand up, not a hand out. While applicants must demonstrate a need for housing, they also must have the ability to pay an affordable mortgage and a willingness to partner with Habitat. That means homebuyers must contribute between 250-500 hours of “sweat equity” — helping build their home alongside Habitat employees and volunteers.

As the project moves forward in the coming months, we’re confident that local residents, churches, businesses and nonprofits will step forward to help construct this new home. Time and time again, our community has come together to help those in need, and we expect this project will be no different.

After a decade without any new Habitat homes in Powell, we also hope this will mark the start of more builds to come here, especially to remove inadequate or condemned houses to make room for new construction. Habitat’s mission is to eliminate substandard and poverty housing in Park County, and with the community’s support, it can move toward reaching that goal — one neighborhood at a time.

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