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About the Ankeny Circle of Faith

Mon, 2005-08-22 13:37 — Jeff Ollie

About the Ankeny Circle of Faith

Formed in 2001, the Ankeny Circle of Faith is an ecumenical group dedicated to cooperatively raising funds, materials, and volunteer labor to build Habitat for Humanity houses for families in need. The coalition currently consists of Ankeny Christian Church, Ankeny First United Methodist Church, Ankeny Presbyterian Church, Ankeny United Church of Christ, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Prairie Ridge Church, Resurrection Lutheran Church, St. Anne's By the Fields Episcopal Church, and St. Mary - Holy Cross Parish.

In 2002 we raised funds for and helped build a 5-bedroom house for a mother and four children at 1404 2nd Place in Des Moines. Since purchasing her home, the mother has started a home day care and preschool onsite. She enjoys being able to see her own children off each morning and greet them when they return from school.

Most recently, we helped sponsor a house at 1710 12th Street in Des Moines. Construction began in September 2004, with the home dedication and sale occuring in January 2005. The house is home to a mother, father and their two children, one of whom was born shortly after the home was completed.

Our current goal is to raise $25,000 to help sponsor a home on which construction will begin in September 2005. It will be located on 12th Street, next-door to our most recent build.

Any funds raised beyond our current goal will be used to help build additional Habitat houses.

About the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

The Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity helps low-income, working families achieve their dreams of home ownership by partnering with volunteers and sponsors from the community to build and renovate decent, affordable housing.

Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual, church, group, and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families invest hundreds of hours of labor—“sweat equity”—into building their homes and the homes of others.

Families apply to our program and are reviewed by a selection process confirming:

  • Need for housing: Current housing is inadequate or costs more than 30 percent of the family’s household income.
  • Ability to pay: The family can afford the no-interest payments on the Habitat-built house.
  • Willingness to partner: The family is willing to perform a minimum amount of “sweat equity” as a down payment. Families complete financial education component and work onsite to help build Habitat houses.