North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity kicked off the construction of their fourth-ever Ely home build on Sunday, August 2.
Volunteers, local officials and Habitat board members gathered with future homeowner Josie Klinzing on the home’s recently-completed foundation near the Ely Water Tower.
Klinzing’s home is scheduled for completion sometime next spring.
Groundwork began in early June and the foundation was completed throughout July.
The home will sit on a city-donated lot immediately to the south of a second city-donated lot, on top of which Habitat for Humanity constructed a home in 2016.
Klinzing said she had been seeking a house since 2022 to no avail. She described the partnership with Habitat as a dream come true.
“If I did find something and I overbid it, somebody would overbid me on that, and I felt hopeless,” Klinzing said. “Habitat was my last chance, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”
“The fact that my home will be built from the love of other people means the most to me,” Klinzing said.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit that bases their organizational model on Christian values, but they serve many families regardless of those individuals’ faith preferences.
The organization taps volunteer labor and donations of land, materials and financial resources to build houses from the ground up for the families they partner with.
Habitat homes typically total to around 1,100 square feet each with three bedrooms and one bathroom.
Simple floorplans make construction easier for volunteers who might never have built a home before. Straightforward designs also boost energy and material efficiency, ensuring homeowners can manage their utility bills.
Local supplier Voyageurs Lumber will serve as the goto supplier for materials used while framing Klinzing’s home.
With a team of just five employees, North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity is currently building homes for seven families across the Iron Range.
“In all the years I’ve worked at Habitat, I have yet to start a house that we haven’t finished,” said executive director Nathan Thompson. “That’s a comfort because it’s going to take some blood, sweat, tears and a few laughs to get this house built.”
At least nine Care-a-Vanners, volunteers who travel to Habitat for Humanity construction locations in RVs, arrived at the scene early last week and will complete a two-week stint on the project.
Individuals, church groups, businesses and civic organizations can reach out to community engagement coordinator Tucker Nelson to schedule a day to volunteer.
“One of the things that I have found in Ely is we’re never lacking for community support,” Thompson said.
For those interested, North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity’s website offers further volunteer information and the option to donate online.
FUTURE HOMEOWNER Josie Klinzing talks with mayor Heidi Omerza and council member Angela Campbell. Photo by Harmony Fisher.
