Press and Related News

While you may not notice it in a non-profit’s bottom line, there is a growing concern in the world of charitable giving that is being seen locally. Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy states that only half of U.S. households donated to a charity in 2018. That was the lowest it had been in almost 20 years.

You will find Door County Habitat for Humanity volunteers stretching the entire peninsula over the next few months as they continue to work on three separate affordable housing projects. Volunteers are working on two different home builds in Baileys Harbor and Sturgeon Bay. They are also assisting in renovating a home for a family in Algoma. It takes time, people, and money to take on the work.

Door County Housing Partnership (DCHP), a nonprofit community land-trust organization whose mission is to bring affordable home-ownership opportunities to year-round residents of Door County, is making a new home at 736 Galley Dr. in Sturgeon Bay available for purchase. To apply, complete a pre-application form at doorcountyhousingtrust.org/eligibility.

Hiding behind enormous piles of rocks in Baileys Harbor, you will find a dream years in the making. Door County Habitat for Humanity and the Wittenmyer family officially broke ground on the organization's 47th home Thursday afternoon. The Wittenmyers wanted to build on their land years ago, but a terminal breast cancer diagnosis for Chrystal Chartier-Wittenmyer changed those plans. Thanks to the work of Door County Habitat for Humanity and other charitable endeavors, the home will become a reality later this fall. Chrystal is thrilled that it is all finally happening, even if she may not be around to see it.

Amid Door County’s ongoing affordable housing shortage, the Door County Housing Partnership is working with Door County Habitat for Humanity to make home ownership more attainable for local working families.

The Pulse: By Myles Dannhausen Jr., April 6th, 2022 Michelle Waldinger is one of many now facing the unenviable task of trying to recruit workers to Door County. It’s unenviable for the director of human resources at Marine Travelift not because she can’t offer good wages or a good career, but because of the growing challenges in finding housing and child care.

BY GLENN GAMBOA / AP MARCH 22, 2022 11:12 AM EDT MacKenzie Scott has donated $436 million to Habitat for Humanity International and 84 of its U.S. affiliates — the largest publicly disclosed donation from the billionaire philanthropist since she pledged in 2019 to give away the majority of her wealth. “We could not be more excited to get the gift at a time when, in some ways, the state of housing affordability is the worst that it has been in modern times,” Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International’s CEO, told The Associated Press. His group received $25 million from Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, with the remaining $411 million to be distributed among Habitat’s local affiliates.

The Door County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the use of $700,000 in federal funding to help fund a new affordable housing development in Sister Bay. The funding comes from the more than $5.3 million the county is allocated under the American Rescue Plan, a 2021 federal Covid relief law. The 45-unit project, called The Shoals, is scheduled to begin construction in June.

During the past 50 years, in all the books published in the United States, the frequency of the word “I” has doubled. This fact comes from Robert Putnam’s book, The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again. Putnam is a Harvard professor best known for his groundbreaking research into our country’s loss of social capital. He summarized his original findings 25 years ago in the landmark book Bowling Alone.

Habitat ramps up community support Door County Daily News - Posted 3/15/2022 by Tim Kowols Door County Habitat for Humanity is making it easier for you to get out of your house. The organization kicked off its RAMP UP Door County project earlier this year to address the accessibility needs of many Door County residents.