Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a program many have heard of, but not everyone knows the details of. It is a wonderful program that enables lower-income people to be able to purchase a home of their own. It's not an easy process- it takes approximately a year to a year and a half to get into a home once the family is accepted into the program.

I sat down and talked with Beth Smith, executive director of the Rutherford County, TN Habitat for Humanity affiliate. 

Families who qualify for the program must put in 300-400 hours of sweat equity in order to receive their house. It is an arduous process- they must put in time building their own homes, helping to build others' homes, doing community service hours, and in Rutherford County, they must take a 26 week financial class that prepares them to be homeowners and teaches about budgeting, predatory lending, and other important financial knowledge. 

Habitat then sells the houses to the families at zero percent interest for what the house cost to build. In Rutherford County, TN, this averages about $60,000. Habitat holds the mortgage. So many of the families they help are one-income families, so if something goes wrong, in a normal mortgage situation this could be disastrous. Habitat is able to work with the family so they can keep their house. 

One of the ways Habitat is able to build the houses so inexpensively is because of volunteer labor. Volunteers working on the construction site work alongside partner families who are building their own home. No special skills are necessary to volunteer on the construction site. Roughly 80% of the volunteers who help build homes are unskilled. The construction staff trains volunteers to build the house- if you volunteer for Habitat, you can learn home improvement skills like roofing, framing, hanging windows and doors, and many other things. Rutherford Habitat does sub out certain things- plumbing and electrical because they must be licensed, and foundations and drywall as well. 

You can volunteer for Habitat even if your time is quite limited. Shifts are flexible- you can work a half shift such as 9AM to 1PM, or a full shift. You can work as often as you want, or you can work one day a year.

If working on the construction site is not your idea of a good time, there are many other ways to volunteer for Habitat- if your area has a ReStore,  you can work there as a cashier or handling donation pickups. There are many committees you can serve on, such as site selection or as a family mentor. There are also office and administration volunteer opportunities if that is where your skills lie.

 Habitat "is changing people's lives," says Smith. "It is giving families the tools they need to be able to succeed." It enables the families to be able to provide a safe home, to leave a legacy for their children, and to be able to feel successful so they can go on to prosper in other areas of their lives. Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity has built 70 houses, and they have never had to forclose on even one of those houses. It is truly a life-changing experience for the families and volunteers. 

It is additionally changing neighborhoods-  recently, Rutherford Habitat tore down seven homes on Sevier Street- one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous street in Murfreesboro, TN. They built seven new homes with partner families, and the street is now much like it was 50 years ago, with flowerpots and children playing- it is not the warzone it once was. 

Curbly readers, I strongly urge you to volunteer for your local Habitat for Humanity. It will change lives- yours included.

April 06, 2007

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