Press and Related News

Amy Dickinson: Dear Readers: The week after Christmas is traditionally a sort of bloated rest period for many, where we recover from the busy holiday season by taking stock, tidying up and planning our new year diet and fitness regimen — from the couch. For many, this week marks a pause. A sigh. An exhale. But this year is not like other years. We have not been traveling, partying, studying in crowded lecture halls or playing with our school friends. We have not been worshiping together, visiting our elders or going to movies, concerts and theater. We have been hunkered down, many of us out of work, exhausted from the altered lifestyle none of us anticipated, and we are yearning, so deeply, to hug — and to be embraced in return.

Clarizio-Bilodeau was the grateful 40th partner of the Door County Habitat for Humanity. The single mother and her children — El, 14, and Matthew, 16 — moved into their home on 6th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay in 2017, and she vowed to help the next partner family build its home. Three years later, she’s not just helping — she has joined the organization’s board of directors.

Americorps VISTA provides Habitat support - Door County Daily News Posted 12/26/20 by Tim Kowols Jerry Phelps knew he was going to be emotional last week when Door County Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 43rd home because as he put it, he always is on dedication day. Phelps served as a volunteer building the home as a member of the Americorps VISTA program. VISTA stands for Volunteers in Service to America and the organization has partnered with Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Wisconsin to help others while building on their own skills for their career. It was the 31st dedication Phelps was a part of after previously serving with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Durham, North Carolina. Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Phelps told the crowd that the number of houses an affiliate builds in a year does not make or break an organization.

There may not be a more active philanthropic effort than the recent push for affordable housing in Door County. At the same time, there are plenty of passersby who are loudly offering their anecdotal opinions about how to solve this expensive and complicated countywide issue. Meanwhile, Diana Wallace and Mariah Goode are quietly working on solutions that have already seen significant results.

By Myles Dannhausen Jr., Door County Living – December 26th, 2020 In this issue, we celebrate women in philanthropy: the organizations that are focused on women’s issues and the women who are accomplishing extraordinary things and inspiring the next generation. In Door County, it wasn’t hard to come up with dozens of ideas and people to feature — so many, in fact, that we don’t have room to include them all in these pages.

With a few Christmas ornaments twinkling in front of them, Door County Habitat for Humanity welcomed the Marvin family home in a dedication ceremony held in Baileys Harbor Tuesday afternoon. The dedication marked the 43rd home built by Door County Habitat for Humanity, a feat construction supervisor Chuck Stone called their most challenging build yet.

Habitat brings back holiday tradition Posted Wednesday afternoon by Tim Kowols, Door County Daily News.

46-unit Attainable Housing Project Proposed for Sister Bay By Myles Dannhausen Jr., Peninsula Pulse – November 13th, 2020 Almost three years after a countywide study revealed a gap of more than 200 rental apartments in northern Door County, a new proposal for affordable units is on the table in Sister Bay. 

Door County has been selected as one of three pilot communities in the state to take part in the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority’s (WHEDA) new Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative.

An affordable housing development concept set for a 12-acre parcel in the Stony Ridge neighborhood of Sister Bay was pressed and approved by the Plan Commission. Next step is to prepare a preliminary document to submit a bid for Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development (WHEDA) tax credits. The Stony Ridge development would sit on 4.8 acres and house around 40 units.