On St. Paul’s East Side, the former Hillcrest Golf Course will soon transform into a new neighborhood.

The foundation has been laid and the walls are going up for the 147 homes that will be built in the coming years. Thousands of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity volunteers help make this possible.

The project includes a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes and more.

LeAndra Estis is a mother of three who first moved into her home five years ago. Today, she is an advocate and volunteer for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

“We built our house, me and my kids, and we painted the walls and cut the windows, similar to what we do here today,” Estis said.

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The homes are equipped with solar-powered roof shingles, fully electrical appliances and sustainable building materials.

State lawmakers were invited to help build homes on former President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday — the Carters have advocated for affordable housing for years.

Rep. Michael Howard, DFL-Richfield, was among the lawmakers who volunteered at the construction site.

“We’ve been doing this for a number of years and you really feel a certain camaraderie and common ground. You know, housing really shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” Howard said.

Howard also addressed a bill he sponsored last year: a $1 billion investment in housing.

A recent report from the Minnesota Housing Partnership found that the homeownership rate among white households is 74 percent, compared to about 30 percent for black households.

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According to Habitat for Humanity officials, the Carters worked with more than 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair nearly 5,000 homes.

Cathy Lawrence is chief of staff at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and project manager for Carter. She said the Carters leave a legacy of service that the organization will continue to build on.

“I think many more people today understand that housing should be a human right, and that homeownership is a real game changer for people. Because he was willing to put his time and energy into housing, our issues were raised even further,” says Lawrence. said.

It is these efforts that gave Estis the opportunity to become a homeowner.

Estis said the home she helped build allowed her space to not only live, but thrive. She wants other families to know that her reality can be theirs too.

“My house, it absolutely built me. Character, value. You could put someone in a house, but that doesn’t mean he or she knows his or her full potential,” Estis said.

Habitat for Humanity officials say 30 homes should be completed by next spring.

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