For the first time ever, Tillamook County Habitat for Humanity is working on two houses at one time.
\nWhich means, twice as many local families will soon have a place to call home.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re looking for opportunities to rehab homes. This is totally new for us,\u201d said Cami Aufdermauer, executive director of Tillamook County Habitat for Humanity.
\nAnother first for Habitat: this is the first time the Tillamook branch has purchased a house to remodel.
\n\u201cThere are homes in the community that are basically falling down. This is good for the community and the housing market,\u201d she said while standing on the sidewalk of the new Habitat house, on Ninth and Miller, across from Hampton Lumber.
\n\u201cGod really gave us peace,\u201d she said, \u201cThis isn\u2019t anything we\u2019ve ever done. There isn\u2019t a formula to follow. We\u2019re stepping out in faith with these two homes.\u201d
\nAufdermauer said Habitat plans to take the original floor plan of the house and create a more open space. Other plans include restoring the floor and adding a second bathroom.
\nWith two homes now being actively worked on, she said volunteers are especially important, with Habitat looking for a contractor to volunteer their time and skills for a few hours a week.
\n\u201cWe need someone with a heart of service,\u201d she said. Currently, Daniel Kujak, contractor, is spending time on Fridays and Saturdays volunteering alongside new Habitat partner family Kelly Katen and her children and other volunteers to renovate the Habitat home on Third Street that will ultimately be Katen\u2019s new home.
\n\u201cEvery time I come in, something new is done,\u201d Aufdermauer said with a palpable energy in her voice. \u201cI really love seeing the community come together to serve families.\u201d
\nAs part of the payment process toward owning a Habitat home, Katen will actively assist with renovations on her new home and, in turn, will volunteer to rehabilitate the new home on Miller Avenue.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to build relationships and then build alongside them,\u201d Aufdermauer said of Habitat for Humanity and Habitat partner families.
\nAufdermauer said these are the first Habitat Homes to be located within Tillamook School District.
\n\u201cThis is a huge deal because all families have been in the Neah-Kah-Nie School District,\u201d Aufdermauer said, adding that being located in central Tillamook will add stability to the families.
\n\u201cThis is more than building a house,\u201d Aufdermauer said, \u201cIt\u2019s building a community. It\u2019s bringing people together from all walks of life to work together.\u201d
\nWith the rising cost of land, more barriers exist for Habitat to build homes from scratch and is presenting opportunities to rehabilitate older homes.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re taking what was old and restoring it,\u201d Aufdermauer said, \u201cThese people are restoring their lives. It\u2019s going to restore community and hope in people.\u201d
\nHabitat for Humanity is beginning a continual application process to be a Habitat partner family. Pick up an application at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on 6500 Williams Avenue in Bay City. Aufdermauer also said to save the date for October 5, which will be a breakfast fundraiser to offset the upfront costs of purchasing the new house.
\nFor more information, email Cami Aufdermauer at caufdermauer@tillamookhabitat.org, or call 503-842-7472.<\/p>\n
Jordan Wolfe
\nManaging Editor
\nNorth Coast Citizen
\nOffice: 503-842-7535
\nMobile: 503-812-7553Pictures back left-right: Vice President Dick Trapp, Treasurer Whitey Forsman, Board Member Tom LaTourette, Board Member Robert Hammond<\/p>\n
Front left-right: Executive Director Cami Aufdermauer, President Debbie Carr, Board Member Barbra Taylor, and US Bank Manager Meghan Wismer<\/p>\n
at home being finished within the next couple months and another project ready to go, Habitat staff are in the process of recruiting a volunteer Project Manager for the next Habitat Home (a rehab of an existing home). Extensive building experience and site management is required. If you would like to be considered for this position contact Cami Aufdermauer at 503-842-7472. Together we build.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For the first time ever, Tillamook County Habitat for Humanity is working on two houses at one time. Which means, twice as many local families will soon have a place to call home. \u201cWe\u2019re looking for opportunities to rehab homes. This is totally new for us,\u201d said Cami Aufdermauer, executive director of Tillamook County Habitat […]\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4922,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"xn-wppe-expiration":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-action":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-prefix":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n