Ground broken for last two Habitat units

Habitat For Humanity of Flathead Valley broke ground on its final two townhouse units in Columbia Falls last week, marking the beginning of the end for the project off Truck Route that started in 2011.

The last two units will be owned by Zach and Kimi Lindsay and Amy Root. Zach Lindsay works in construction, and Root, who is single, works at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

By using volunteer labor, homeowner “sweat equity” and donations from local and national building materials suppliers, Habitat For Humanity is able to keep the cost of constructing the townhomes at an affordable level. About 3,000 hours of volunteer labor is needed to complete one of the townhomes.

The neighborhood is the second Habitat for Humanity project in Columbia Falls. The first project was completed in the Mosquito Flats area several years ago.

Applicants must put in a certain number of hours working on the neighborhood — not just their own homes. In return, they pay an interest-free mortgage.

All told, Habitat has built 48 homes for families in Flathead County.

“We’re about getting people out of substandard housing,” said Dave Williams, board president of Habitat For Humanity of Flathead Valley. “Here’s a neighborhood where kids can play.”

The neighborhood is situated on a quiet one-way street and has many families with children.

“It means the world to our family to be able to call a home here our own,” Zach Lindsay said.

The Lindsay and Root homes should be finished by next spring.