Habitat for Humanity dedicates new home in Madison

A Madison mother and daughter will spend the holidays in a new home.  A dedication ceremony was held Saturday for Diane and Brianna Friesz’s home, built through the help of the Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity.  

Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Dan McColley said during Saturday’s ceremony that this house was built fully handicap accessible to accommodate Brianna Friesz, who uses an electric wheelchair.

Habitat Board Member Scott Parsley of Madison said the house will help meet all of Brianna’s needs.

Parsley said the house also does not have a crawl space, so room was built off the garage for things like a water heater and furnace.  

Parsley said this housing project started in July of 2018, but it took some additional time to complete because of some unforeseen obstacles in the process.  He said it took a lot of people a lot of hours to complete the home so that the Friesz family could now take over ownership of it.  

Habitat for Humanity designs and builds houses to meet the needs of the applicant who is chosen.  Parsley said in this situation, Brianna Friesz had concerns about the type of flooring that the house would include.

Dan McColley said that the Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity is working on completing another home in Madison, and then will open the application process in March for new homeowners.  He said that they have land in Madison for three additional families to be helped by the Habitat for Humanity program and volunteers.