Operation Fresh Start & Habitat forge homebuilding partnership

Participants in Operation Fresh Start’s Legacy Program will get some significant hands-on learning experience building a Habitat for Humanity home as part of a new partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. The partnership builds on Operation Fresh Start’s existing program which offers on-the-job training and work experience for students ages 16 – 24 while working towards their high school diplomas. Operation Fresh Start (OFS) participants officially picked up hammers at Habitat’s Fitchburg construction site in mid-December and started on a four-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home for soon-to-be Habitat homeowners, Mostafa, Rajaa and their three children – 11-year-old Zainab, eight-year-old Ismail, and three-year-old Bilal. “Habitat for Humanity of Dane County has been a significant, long standing, positive contributor to Dane County’s affordable housing dilemma,” said Brian McMahon, OFS Deputy Director. “It’s through partnerships like this that we can help further address current housing challenges which many of our participants face. OFS is excited to partner with Habitat on building an affordable home for this family.” Read the full story in the Fitchburg Star.