Volunteer & Learn: Preparing Your Home for Winter

Winter’s coming- let's get ready together! Join us for this workshop all about simple, practical tips to keep your home cozy, safe, and energy efficient all season long. We will cover both interior and exterior prep tasks including exterior faucets, cleaning gutters, window insulation, ceiling fans, and more.

Bring your questions, share ideas, and leave feeling prepared. Sign up today and get ahead of the cold! 

Free off-street parking. Lite refreshments provided; childcare available for children over the age of four. 

Monday, October 13, 2025
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Twin Cities Habitat Office

1954 University Ave W, St. Paul

ReStore Grand Opening: You're Invited!

We've been teasing about it all year, and it's finally here: our third ReStore in Brooklyn Park is opening next month! We've got a huge Grand Opening celebration planned on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11, and we'd love for you to join us. From local radio celebrities to food trucks to raffles, there's fun the whole weekend—and that's not even counting great deals on furniture, appliances, and home improvement goods. Get all the details, RSVP on Facebook, and plan to celebrate with us soon. 

Save the Date!

Homeowner Family Night

Thursday, November 13, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Minnesota Children's Museum

10 W. 7th St.

St. Paul, MN 55104

Join other Habitat homeowners and their families, along with Twin Cities Habitat staff, for a fun, family-friendly evening! Learn more and RSVP here.

Monthly Maintenance

Furnace Maintenance

With winter approaching soon it’s vitally important to ensure that your furnace is ready to keep you and your family warm all season long. Make sure you are replacing your furnace filters every month and, if you’re able, schedule a furnace technician to tune up the furnace: How to Replace a Furnace Filter | Repair and Replace.

Rotate Spring/Summer Tools With Winter Tools

Before it gets too cold out it’s worth it to go through your garage or shed to position your winter tools where they’ll be easy to access. Since you won’t be needing your gardening or pruning tools it’s a good idea to move them to the back of wherever your storage is: Garden Tool Storage Ideas for Summer and Winter | Bella Systems Custom Closets

Clean Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for winter. The sun can melt the snow on your roof even when it’s cold outside. Also, if your gutters aren’t clean there won’t be anywhere for that water to go, which can cause ice dams. Ice dams will damage your roof, causing leaks and even potentially a collapse: How to Clean Gutters | Cleaning Tips | The Home Depot

Turn of exterior faucets before the first freeze

Remove any hoses from exterior faucets and turn them off from the interior shutoff before the first freeze. This ensures that there’s no water in the exterior faucet pipes that would otherwise freeze and burst: How to Winterize Your Outdoor Faucet

Check and re-seal exterior caulking and foundation

Go around and make sure your windows, doors, and foundation are properly caulked and sealed to prevent cold air from coming in and warm air from escaping. This will both keep you more comfortable throughout the winter and also keep your energy bills low: Lower Your Energy Bills by Weatherizing Your Home | How to Seal Windows and Doors

Air Exchanger

If you have an air exchanger, change the settings to 30-40% for winter. This video details how air exchangers work and includes some simple maintenance. Be sure to look at your manual for details specific to your unit. Air Exchanger Video

Money Minute

Is Your Property Homesteaded?

The homestead classification applies to properties occupied as primary residences by their owners. A property classified as a homestead may qualify for a reduced classification rate, reduced taxable market value, property tax refund, and/or special program eligibility.

Once a property has been granted homestead classification, you do not need to reapply. You can verify that this has been completed by reviewing the property tax information listed for your home on your county’s website, or learn more on the MN Department of Revenue website

Apply to your county assessor by December 31, 2025, to qualify for this classification for 2026.

Community Partner Spotlight

Anisha Murphy (she/her) is a proud Twin Cities native and the Founder and Managing Attorney of Just Law LLC, an asset protection law firm focused on business and legacy protection. At Just Law, the mission is to equip individuals with the legal tools and knowledge they need to thrive.

Anisha is deeply driven by a sense of duty and impact. Her work is grounded in the belief that legal empowerment can be a catalyst for change—helping to close disparity gaps, eliminate the racial wealth divide, and dismantle systemic and institutional barriers that hinder access to opportunity, particularly for Black and brown communities.

You're invited to join Anisha and Just Law for a webinar about estate planning. You'll learn tools and strategies to help you preserve your home, assets, and future.