Greeley Area Habitat For Humanity

Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity (GAHFH) was incorporated as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in 1987. Founded by a group of volunteers who saw a need for affordable housing in the Greeley area, GAHFH has since built more than 100 homes in partnership with families in need.
GAHFH homes have been built throughout Weld County including Greeley, Evans, Eaton, and Milliken. Though homes were initially built on single lots, in 1999 GAHFH purchased land in Greeley which was divided into 22 lots and dubbed, “Tiemann Village-” named after esteemed volunteer, Tony Tiemann. The construction of multiple homes at a single site translated into increased affordability and more efficient use of resources. Tiemann Village was completed in 2002 and is also home to “Jimmy’s Park”- a pocket park built with the Kiwanis Club of Greeley and the Greeley Dentist Association in memory of Jimmy Huff, a local dentist and an ardent GAHFH supporter.
Once Tiemann Village was completed, GAHFH focused efforts in another Weld County community. In 2004, GAHFH celebrated the completion of the affiliate’s first home in Milliken. Built at the Centennial Crossing development, this home was made possible through a land donation from the Hall-Irwin Construction Company and Mr. Ron Ehrlich.
Also in 2004, GAHFH began construction at Habitat North-a 60 home subdivision in northeast Greeley. The land purchase was made possible through an acquisition grant from the Greeley Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) in the amount of $160,000. At the end of FY 2015, 52 homes had been completed at Habitat North.
In addition to affordable homes, Habitat North is home to the Monfort Family Resource Center. Made possible by a generous donation from New Frontier Bank, this facility consists of staff offices, a computer lab and library and meeting areas for homeowner workshops and board/committee meetings. The computer lab, library, and meeting rooms are available to Habitat homeowners as well as the general public. Habitat North is also the home to “Chagolla Park”, dedicated in 2007. This park is a product of the generous efforts of the Greeley Kiwanis and the Greeley Morning Garden Club. Dubbed “Chagolla Park,” the park was named after a former GAHFH Executive Director, Tom Chagolla. Also in 2007, the Greeley Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) allocated funding for a water tap and meter fee so that GAHFH can adequately irrigate the communal landscaped portions of the development.
On October 1, 2005, GAHFH took an integral step toward sustained self-sufficiency with the grand opening of the affiliate’s Home Improvement ReStore. The ReStore functions as a unique type of retail store wherein individuals and businesses from the Greeley area are able to make in-kind contributions of new or gently used items. Donated items are then sold the general public at a reduced cost.
During the FY 2010-2013, in partnership with Greeley Urban Renewal Authority, 16 homes were rehabilitated throughout the Greeley area.
In the fall of 2016, GAHFH began a collaboration with Jefferson High School, and Greeley/Evans District 6 and AIMS Community college to launch a first of it’s kind Construction pathway Program. This Jefferson High School student population is at risk, 90% is on free and reduced lunch and consists of students faced with daily challenges. There is a day care on campus for teen parents to have childcare available, some of the students have criminal records and many were or were considering dropping out of school. 25 of these at-risk students will be tasked to build a Habitat home from the foundation to handing over the keys to the family.
Students, during the construction of the Habitat home will be developing skills, such as teamwork, dependability, work ethic, construction skills, communication, problem solving, and adaptability, among others. Learning and assimilating these skills and attributes will significantly increase a student's opportunity for success in their future career and life endeavors. GAHFH’s collaboration will also offer these students the opportunity for dual enrollment through AIMS Community College, earning college credit for the CAD System and the Applied Technical Math courses offered during the program. thus further encouraging an at-risk student population to consider continuing their education after graduation. Through education, we continue the mission of ending the cycle of poverty.
Our organization has created a sister Lunch and Learn program to coincide with the Jefferson High School build days in which community groups can build with the students and participate in a Q and A over lunch, giving the students a much needed and unique look into the many other possible career paths that exist beyond construction.
In the programs first year, there was such interest in participation, that the program has now evolved to include a first year, pre-requisite course teaching the basic knowledge necessary for construction in a classroom setting. The students, upon completion of that course will then be given the opportunity to come to the job site 3-4 times a week and build their home alongside the Habitat family.
The success of the program has proved to be more tangible and significant than we had envisioned. All of the underperforming participating students in the first year graduated high school. We have seen siblings who have followed in the footsteps of their older brother attending the class in its second year because of the impact it had on their family and what they witnessed firsthand through their brother attending in the first year. Students have shared stories about their reasons for wanting to participate in the course: “they wanted to build a house for someone who needed it, and their house is falling apart and now they know how to fix it.” Two of the first year students became Habitat employees following the completion of the programs first year. Groups who have come to build and Lunch and Learn with the students have handed out business cards to those who impressed them, they have formed bonds and shared their stories. This program’s impact is immeasurable as it impacts every single person that has contact or support in any way.
In the summer of 2016, GAHFH accomplished many milestone achievements. The 60 home development known as Habitat north was completed, and construction began on the first Habitat Veterans Build in the state of Colorado in Hudson, CO through a new partnership with GAHFH and the Town of Hudson. Additionally, the infrastructure for GAHFH’s 14 home development, Crestview was underway to be completed in the fall. The first 3 homes in this development would go on to be built by and in partnership with the Jefferson students and the community in support of the construction program.
The 2nd Veteran’s Build was completed by GAHFH in the summer of 2017. 2017 has also been the year of onboarding exciting new initiatives like the House that Beer Built engaging the craft beer and hospitality industry and eventually producing, packaging and selling an exclusive craft beer with all proceeds going to the initiative. GAHFH has also planned and begun the efforts on a Faith Build and a Women Build and a Veteran Build for 2018 as well as 2 Jefferson High School Construction Pathway homes.