Habitat building pair of homes

o Habitat for Humanity partners with working-poor families who work 250 hours on the house during construction. Then, families buy the house with a no-interest loan.

o Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. The organization has built more than 300,000 houses that shelter an estimated 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities worldwide.

o Habitat for Humanity Restore, which offers leftover building supplies, is at 5000 E. Fourth Plain Blvd.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, visit:

http://www.ehfh.org.

“Tell your friends and neighbors we’re building houses,” proclaimed Bill Bryant as Evergreen Habitat for Humanity broke ground Sunday on its 20th and 21st homes in Clark County.

By the December holidays, two families should feel the warmth of their own home, added site manager Bernie Lewis.

The houses will be adjacent on 98th Avenue in Orchards. Two other Habitat houses are nearby; Kelly Coleman’s adjacent house was finished just last December.

Aleksandr Jatskovski said his family of seven is excited and happy to be chosen for a Habitat house. The family — mother Natalja and children Alina,12, Larissa,16, Dmitry, 14, Mark, 9, and David, 6 — came to the United States from Estonia in 2004. Alexsandr works as a packer for Northwest Pipe Company of Vancouver.

The house next door will be home to Maria Soria and her 2-year-old daughter Angelina Jean.

“I’m so happy. I didn’t expect it,” Soria said of being chosen for a Habitat house. She is a stocker at a Walmart store and came from the Philippines in 2002.

Each family has a financial partner.

Walls Fargo Bank provided $50,000 for the Jatskovski house. Don Pearson, the bank’s regional president, said, “This year, we have 45 build (work) dates (in Oregon and Southwest Washington). Our total contribution to Habitat will be in excess of $300,000.”

Tom Taylor of Wells Fargo added that the bank’s employees will contribute 600 hours this year on the Jatskovski house. “It’s one of the key community service areas that we focus on, “ he said.

The Soria family has backing from Thrivent Financial Services for Lutherans. Mike Mattson said Thrivent is giving Evergreen Habitat for Humanity $84,965 for the Soria home. Also, the not-for-profit financial organization will provide 50 percent of the labor to build the house. Those people will be from Lutheran churches in the area.

Mattson, a financial representative, said Thrivent pledged $120 million nationwide in 2005 to build 500 houses in four years. At last tally, 1317 houses had been built with Thrivent backing, he said.

Making a difference

Bill Bryant, board president for Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, has been involved with house building since the group organized in 1991.

“To me, it’s really gratifying because I’ve seen what a difference it’s made in people’s lives,” Bryant said. “It’s made a big difference in my life. It’s made a big difference in the lives of the people who help build the houses, and it’s been a big difference in the lives of the homeowners.”

“Because I’ve been around a long time, I’ve been able to see the long-term benefit,” he added.

Soria said she has been living with an aunt; the Jatskovski family has been living in a small apartment.

Bernie Lewis of Lewis Homes said he is excited to get building on the third and fourth houses that he has served as site manager. He said the Soria house will be 960 square feet and the Jatskovski house will be 1,241 square feet. He said about 25 percent of the work will be done by professionals and 75 percent by volunteers.

Executive director Kristina Aitchison said Habitat is “breaking the cycle of poverty.” She said when once a house is built, “That’s a lifetime of happiness and safety.”