A federal grant enabled North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity to add to its staff and eventually increase the number of homes it builds.
In a news release, the nonprofit organization, based in Virginia, said it was one of 30 Habitat affiliates selected to receive a portion of a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The grant enabled North St. Louis County Habitat to hire Tom Long as its first resource development manager, the news release said. Long, who lives on Long Lake south of Eveleth, began Oct. 10. He will be responsible for community relations; developing partnerships with area businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations; and volunteer recruitment and coordination.
Each affiliate that receives the grant is expected to increase house production by at least 15 percent over three years and to match their grant funds by a ratio of 4 to 1.
Nathan Thompson, North St. Louis County Habitat executive director, said the agency plans to increase from its current rate of five homes per year to six by 2013. Since 1995, Habitat has worked with 41 families to build homes in North St. Louis County, the news release said. It is one of nearly 380 affiliates nationwide that have benefited from HUD grants.
