By Lori EhdeLuverne’s Shari Kracht enjoys backyard barbecues and private space for her children to play, both indoors and out. But most of all, she enjoys the freedom of owning her own home.As the first Habitat for Humanity homeowner in the Southwest Minnesota Chapter, Kracht is reminded every day how much better life is after moving out of her low income apartment last year."How can I not be happy?" she said Tuesday.Her four-bedroom home, completed last summer, is located on the corner of Warren and Southwest Park street.Being a Habitat for Humanities family is a non-conventional route to homeownership, but Kracht said it’s a path she’d be happy to take again.In fact, she’s been instrumental in helping other families who are considering making the same move."I tell them it’s scary at first, because it’s such a big change," she said. "It’s overwhelming — all these people coming at you at once. People come from everywhere and you don’t know who they are."She said she encourages them to go through with it, because it’s worth it in the end. "Once you get into it, and you reach the midway point, you start to see the end," she said. "And when you get to the end, it’s the most wonderful thing you can imagine."Along with the wonderful aspects of homeownership, Kracht said the most important message she gets across is that a Habitat home is earned."It’s something you pay for, and once you’re in it, you’re in it for life," she said.Including taxes and insurances, Kracht is making payments of more than $300 per month, and she said she hopes to clear up the misconception that she’s getting something for nothing.She said it also bothers her to hear rumors that she’s not caring for the property. "Contrary to popular belief, it’s not wrecked or destroyed," Kracht said.According to Marie Ekdom, assistant administrator of the Southwest Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, success of the chapter and its programs hinges on public support.She said the Luverne project is a success and that Kracht has contributed to that. "Shari has done everything we want her to do as a Habitat homeowner," Ekdom said.In testimonials she offers on the process, Kracht describes a deep sense of pride in having been a part of the building process."The 500 hours of sweat equity I did willingly and with pride, knowing that I was helping build my own home," she says in her speeches."It gives you this great sense of pride. You help build it, you want to keep it nice forever, because you know how much work goes into building it."She also talks about how the process has changed her life. "I am so much happier. The children are so much happier. I feel alive again," she says. "The youngest four no longer have to be ashamed of where they live and are very happy."She also shares with others how she’s learned about generosity in others."My many thanks to the Southwestern Minnesota Habitat For Humanity and all the people who volunteer their time," she said. "This has opened my eyes to see that there are people out there who do care — people who freely volunteer their time to help others."Now she said she looks forward to volunteering her time with the Pipestone Habitat home."I’ll do anything they need help with," she said. "If I could have helped more with the Worthington home I would have."The average Habitat for Humanity home is built for about $35,000 to $40,000 with donated funds, equipment and labor.For every local home built, the national organization gives 10 percent of the total value to projects in other needy parts of the world.Pam Dobson is the Luverne contact for Habitat for Humanities.
