Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) is Helping a
Hurricane Katrina Family

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County and M.U.D. to provide new life for Hurricane Katrina Family. The Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) is helping a Hurricane Katrina family get a fresh start in a High-Efficiency Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County home.

The home will be purchased by Richard and Allison Sauer who came to Bellevue in September 2005 with their two children, ages 16 and 12, after Hurricane Katrina devastated their hometown of Ocean Springs, MS.

“We couldn’t go back, our housing was gone and my job was gone too. We lost everything,” said Richard Sauer. “The District and its employees saw an opportunity to give back to the community,” said M.U.D. President Tom Wurtz. “We are excited to be a partner in this project. Because the home is fueled by clean and efficient natural gas, the family will save money on utility costs.”

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County builds homes for economically disadvantaged families. The houses are sold to families with a zero-interest mortgage. Habitat charges the family for the actual building costs, not the market value of the home. M.U.D. will provide energy-efficient natural gas appliances and fuel lines to the home located at 2520 Rose Lane Rd., Bellevue. District employees also will help build the house. Habitat for Humanity uses volunteer labor to keep the construction costs low.

Richard Sauer is grateful to have the opportunity to purchase a High-Efficiency M.U.D. Habitat House. He also appreciates everything the Bellevue community has done to welcome him, especially the support from his church. "My family and I appreciate M.U.D. choosing our home to be their energy-efficient house. We are truly thankful to M.U.D., Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, and West Bellevue Church for their support in our transition to a new life here in Bellevue Nebraska."

“Sarpy Habitat is excited for this opportunity to provide an affordable, high-efficiency house for the Sauer family,” said Margaret Stamp, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. “We plan to work with M.U.D. on another high-efficiency gas home in 2008.”