Reaching Out

Kelly Butler is looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and the one-year anniversary of her new home. Monday, Nov. 17 will mark the date she and her son moved into the La Pine home she helped build through Newberry Habitat for Humanity.

“I can’t explain what a life-changing program it is,” she said, reflecting on her experience and the sweat equity she contributed. Habitat requires 400 hours of that sweat equity in partnership with the prospective homeowner.

When Butler learned she’d have to get her hands dirty helping to construct her home, she said that made her feel better.

“It motivated me. This is not charity. It’s a program to give people a hand up, and I wanted to be part of that,” she said.

It was Butler’s boss at Sunriver Resort who suggested she apply. She had heard about the program but didn’t realize it was for people like her until her boss handed her a brochure and encouraged her to apply.

Sunriver Resort has been a strong supporter of Newberry Habitat. Tom O’Shea, managing director of the resort, sits on the Habitat board and has spearheaded several successful fundraising efforts for the organization. The Showcase/Crosswater Invitational, an annual event sponsored by the resort, donates all its proceeds to Newberry Habitat.

Founded in 1993, Newberry Habitat’s service area extends from Lava Butte to the Klamath County line.

Like all nonprofit organizations, it struggled during the Great Recession. That struggle was twofold. Fundraising dollars dropped off and the high unemployment in the La Pine area reduced the number of families who could meet Habitat’s eligibility criteria for homeownership.

“We had difficulty finding people who could qualify because they were unemployed or had only been employed for a few months,” said Dwane Krumme, executive director of Newberry Habitat.

Applicants have to demonstrate verifiable income. The minimum income level required is 35 percent of area median income and the maximum amount is 60 percent of area median income. For a family of two, that translates into an annual income limit of $30,000, Krumme said.

In the last two years under the leadership of board president Dick Arnold and Krumme — both bankers in a past life — the organization is on its way to achieving Arnold’s goal of making Newberry Habitat a model affiliate organization.

“We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there,” Arnold said.

Krumme credits Arnold with bringing new vitality to the board.

“Dick has been masterful at getting people involved on the board who have business savvy and good community skills,” said Krumme.

“The new board members have reached out to donors with the financial wherewithal,” he added, “and that’s made a huge difference.”

The organization also wanted to build a bridge between Sunriver and La Pine and actively campaigned to get the La Pine community more involved. To that end, Arnold contacted La Pine Mayor Ken Mulenex who expressed an interest in serving on the board.

In January, Habitat held an open house in La Pine to publicize the program. Arnold said he was worried when he pulled into the parking lot and saw only cars belonging to Habitat volunteers. But his fears soon subsided when the room filled with 26 La Pine community members. Six filled out applications that evening.

Once an application is received, two volunteers from the Family Selection Committee are assigned to meet with the families at their homes. The volunteers assess the current home environment and inquire about the family members’ employment history.

“They get acquainted with them in more than a, ‘how do you do’ sense,” said Krumme.

If it appears that they are candidates that can qualify, the Family Selection Committee representatives recommend that Habitat begin working with the families.

Habitat’s goal is to build two houses a year and pay off the $240,000 loan on the ReStore property. Habitat ReStores are home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price.

To date they have raised $150,000 to retire the ReStore debt, which once totally paid off, will enable them to build more than two homes a year.

In addition to the ReStore and homeownership program, Habitat also performs home repairs for people with disabilities and for veterans.

Krumme wants Newberry Habitat to be the best in class at what it does.

“We aren’t the biggest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be the best,” he said.

Seems they are well on their way to becoming just that.