The Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund recently awarded Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley with a $10,000 grant to help fund the Spring Creek Estates project in West Kalispell.
The grant will be used to complete construction of four new single family homes. The families for each of these homes have already been chosen and are hard at work contributing their sweat equity hours to build their homes, a requirement to become Habitat for Humanity homeowners. The four homes are scheduled to be completed by September 2017.
“Weyerhaeuser has really stepped up to become an incredible supporter of Habitat for Humanity and affordable housing,” Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Erin Falcon stated. “Plum Creek has always been a critical backer of our mission in the Flathead Valley and we were thrilled Weyerhaeuser has committed to continuing that tradition in helping families’ homeownership dreams to come true.”
Weyerhaeuser acquired Plum Creek in February 2016 and decided to continue supporting Habitat for Humanity. Plum Creek support included donated lumber studs to several Habitat for Humanity homes over the past years as well as made an annual monetary donation, making Plum Creek’s lifetime donation to Habitat at just over $50,000.
The mission of the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund is to improve the quality of life in communities where Weyerhaeuser has a presence. Since 1948, the company’s philanthropy has directed more than $183 million to the communities where Weyerhaeuser employees work, live and play. Nationwide, the annual philanthropic budget totals $10 million.
Weyerhaeuser currently operates three mills in Montana: a lumber mill in Kalispell, a plywood mill in Kalispell and a medium-density fiberboard mill in Columbia Falls. There are currently over 500 people employed by Weyerhaeuser in the state of Montana.
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley is part of the global, nonprofit housing organization. HFHFV is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley was established in 1989 with the mission of eliminating substandard housing. Due to rapid population growth, an increase in property values and stagnant income levels, the need for affordable housing in Flathead County has increased over the last two decades, according to organization leaders. According to U.S. Census data, the organization estimates that over 1,000 Flathead County families currently live in substandard housing. The local Habitat for Humanity has built 49 homes to date.