Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley will hold a special Homes for the Holidays dedication ceremony today in Columbia Falls.

The ceremony will commemorate the completion of the 13th and 14th of 16 Habitat townhomes that are being constructed in the Mitchell Way development. 

The ceremony will be at 5 p.m. at 5 and 7 Mitchell Way.

Progress can be seen on the two final townhouses in the development that broke ground earlier this fall at 1 and 3 Mitchell Way. They should be completed by March. 

All families for these homes have been selected and are investing sweat equity into their homes.

The two families moving into their completed units will be in attendance as well as members of Habitat for Humanity’s board of directors, Family Selection Committee and several key volunteers and sponsors. Following the brief ceremony, attendees will be able to tour the completed homes.

Construction began in May 2011. 

By using volunteer labor, homeowner “sweat equity” and donations from local and national building material suppliers, Habitat for Humanity is able to keep the cost of construction low. A total of 3,000 hours of volunteer labor is required to complete a Habitat home.

Habitat selects families and/or individuals based on their need, ability to pay a 30-year no-interest mortgage and their willingness to work with the organization.

Habitat for Humanity holds build days every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

No building experience is necessary to help out. Habitat’s professional construction supervisor is on site to assign tasks and supervise all construction. 

For those interested in volunteering, additional information can be found by calling the Habitat for Humanity administrative office at 257-8800.