By Trey Mewes, Austin Daily Herald

AUSTIN — Habitat for Humanity Freeborn/Mower has a community development coordinator to work with local programs and improve more houses in Austin.

Habitat Executive Director Brigitte Campbell said the local Habitat for Humanity chapter hired Brent Johnson of Austin to work with Vision 2020 and Austin volunteers, among other organizations, on the Community Housing Improvement Program.

Johnson had worked as a transportation coordinator at the Mower County Senior Center for the past seven years, according to Campbell. He is familiar with CHIP, as volunteers resided in a house across the street from where he lived last summer.

“He actually went across the street and helped to do that project,” Campbell said.

Habitat for Humanity was among several groups to partner with the Vision 2020 community improvement program to implement the CHIP program last summer, when volunteers did exterior work on six houses in northeast Austin. Volunteers hope to double the houses they fix every year.

Volunteers are slated to fix several houses in southeast Austin near Marcusen Park, and the homes at the 900 and 1000 block of Second, Third and Fourth avenues Northeast once again this summer.

Local volunteers are already getting recognized for their efforts — the Minnesota chapter of Habitat for Humanity has recognized the Freeborn/Mower chapter for CHIP, which works well with Habitat for Humanity’s Brush for Kindness program. Campbell was at a conference last month and spoke about the CHIP program to teach other chapters how to set up similar initiatives.

Habitat home dedication this Sunday

Habitat for Humanity Freeborn/Mower will dedicate its latest home starting at noon Sunday.

The local Habitat for Humanity chapter broke ground on a home for the Klabunde family in Lyle last July and built through an abnormally dismal winter. Work will finish on the home throughout this week and it will be officially deemed complete on Sunday.

The dedication ceremony takes place at 302 Fifth St. in Lyle.