September 9, 2002

Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth Kautz recognized a need for affordable housing in her community. In response to that need, Mayor Kautz took advantage of an opportunity to ask other mayors from around the Minneapolis/St. Paul (Twin Cities) metropolitan area to join her in doing something about filling that need.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, a leading provider of affordable housing in the Twin Cities area, believes in giving families a "hand up," not just a hand out. This nonprofit organization is currently building 80 homes per year in the seven-county metro area and selects families to purchase those homes based on need, ability to repay the zero percent mortgage, and willingness to partner (putting in 300-500 hours helping to build their home or other Habitat homes). Twin Cities Habitat keeps their construction costs very low by using volunteer labor for 75 percent of the construction process and obtaining construction materials through cash or in-kind donations. Another important factor in the affordability of their homes is to obtain property from the dozens of municipalities in the Twin Cities area at low or no cost.

Two years ago, this Habitat affiliate built two homes in Burnsville, working closely with Mayor Kautz and other city staff. When the opportunity to build in Burnsville arose once again, Twin Cities Habitat was eager to proceed. With the help of city and county officials, Mayor Kautz in particular, the land was made available and the largest development in the history of the Twin Cities Habitat affiliate became a reality. Currently, nine homes are under construction with the final two to be started soon.

Two of the eleven homes in the Burnsville Habitat Development were to be the site of a unique construction process dubbed WomenBuild. WomenBuild is an annual Habitat project where hundreds of women from around the Twin Cities area come together to build two or more homes in a six-week period for families in need of decent housing - families who earn between 25 percent and 50 percent of the state median income. WomenBuild provides the opportunity for women to participate in all aspects of home construction in a supportive, empowering environment. It addresses the affordable housing crisis and demonstrates that women from all backgrounds can join together and actively work together to help solve this problem.

Upon hearing of this unique event, Mayor Kautz decided that this was the perfect opportunity to show her support in a very tangible way and to invite other female mayors from across the metro area to do the same. In response to her invitation, four mayors and a Burnsville city council member pulled on their work gloves and reported for volunteer duty at the WomenBuild site on Friday, August 23, joining other female volunteers to help complete construction on the two homes. They installed door hardware, nailed down tack strip for carpeting, and filled nail holes in preparation for painting. Mayor Kautz and her colleagues from Apple Valley, Hampton, Vadnais Heights and Falcon Heights brought their support and enthusiasm to the forefront by volunteering their time in this very special way.

"We-re going to do it again next year," said Mayor Kautz emphatically as she left the site. "And we-re going to get even more mayors involved!"

Not only her words, but her actions speak volumes.