Updated November 2008

Construction of the 100^th house is set to begin late this year. It will be built in honor of Habitat volunteer, Joe Dappen.  Over the last 20 years, Joe has worked on every Habitat home built in the Lincoln area—all 99 of them. Joe taught chemistry at Lincoln Southeast High School and in 1988 helped organize the Lincoln Habitat affiliate. He has witnessed the changes in Habitat during the past 20 years

For 20 years, Habitat supporters in the Lincoln area have come together in the simple, profound work of putting hammer to nail and brush to paint to improve this community. Volunteers and homeowners labor three days a week, year round to build simple, decent housing and generous contributors have made the work possible by contributing the needed funds for construction material.

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“It’s wonderful to have the 100^th Habitat home built in honor of my volunteer service to Habitat for Humanity,” says Joe Dappen, “but, Habitat isn’t just one person. The real honor goes to all the devoted volunteers who spend their Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, year round building homes for people in need.” 

Habitat Volunteers

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This home will bring smiles to the faces of the homeowners Abeny Kucha and her sons, Dominic, Jok and Mathayo. Joe Dappen’s service and that of all Habitat volunteers will be honored. Joe and his fellow volunteers are an inspiration. In the words of Norman Vincent Peale, “The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.”

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Lincoln early birds witnessed the moving of a Habitat house to its permanent location on October 26^th at daybreak. The home was built by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and area Lutheran congregations on the parking lot of Sheridan Lutheran Church at the intersection of 70^th and Old Cheney. The Lincoln community has been able to enjoy following the progress of the construction at this busy intersection. Now that the work is complete, the home was moved slowly down 70^th Street to its permanent location at 3333 X Street. Habitat homeowner, Amy Moran and her daughter will be moving in soon and will benefit for years to come from this opportunity to partner in building a safe, affordable home for their family.

Thrivent Financial became Habitat for Humanity International’s largest ally as a result of a four-year $125 million commitment to help increase the nonprofit housing ministry’s home building production. The alliance gives local Habitat affiliates the opportunity to work with more low-income families toward achieving Habitat’s mission of eliminating substandard housing.

Locally, Lincoln/Lancaster County Habitat for Humanity has been awarded $115,330, or 65 percent of the funds necessary, to build two homes in 2008 through the alliance. The second home is being constructed at 1833 NW 47^th Street and will be the home of Siddiq Al-Abij and Wefa Alaziz and their four children. The homes are being built by area volunteers, of whom at least one-half will be Lutheran and one-fourth will be Thrivent Financial members. The Habitat partner families will also invest 400 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their homes.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity brings together two national nonprofit networks of more than 1,600 Habitat affiliates and 1,362 Thrivent volunteer chapters. The need for an effort of this magnitude is great:

•  According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing in 2007, nearly half of low income U.S. household—more than 13 million families—pay more than 50 percent of their income on housing.

• Millions more live in overcrowded conditions or housing with severe physical deficiencies, such as having no not water, electricity or toilet

Sheridan House

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Position Available:  AmeriCorp:  Contruction Volunteer Management

The AmeriCorp position will be responsible for assisting Habitat staff with volunteer management and construction worksite organization.  

AmeriCorps basic requirements.

      Minimum member requirements are:

• At least 17 years old
• High school diploma or GED
• US citizen or Legal Permanent Resident
• Valid Driver's License
• Good English-speaking skills
• No pass criminal history, adult abuse, child abuse or sexual offense. Background checks will be made

      Habitat's position requirements are:

• Basic construction skills important
• People skills important
• Organizational skills needed

For more information call:  Marilyn Haley

                                       Resource Coordinator

                                       Habitat for Humanity

                                       402-477-9184

                                       mhhabitat@windstream.net

                                        More information available at the following link: