With preparations underway to begin construction soon on its fifth partner family home, Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is seeking financial support to complete the dwelling on Hayes Street.
“We have selected our fifth partners, the Tia Adcock family, and are now ready to begin construction on it but we’re in need of raising about another $20,000. We do have enough money to start the house. We just don’t have enough money to complete it,” said spokesman Larry Green.
Two major fundraisers are held each year for Habitat and another one may be scheduled this spring but the amount of money generated from those events isn’t enough to completely build a home.”We are in the process of looking at another fundraiser for the spring. We currently have two fundraisers each year. We do the Fiddler 5K in the summer and the Chili Cook-Off in the fall but that does not bring in quite enough money so we’re asking people to partner with us and give donations to Habitat for Humanity. We appreciate anything anyone would like to give to us,” said Green.
As more houses are built, Green said funding for future projects should not be a great concern. “The more houses we build, the less money we have to raise. Once we get up to fifteen or twenty houses, then we will be self sufficient. The people who pay the mortgages then will actually be paying for the next house to be built. It will give us the funds for that,” he said.
Many people may have the notion that Habitat builds these homes at no cost to the partner family, but that is not the case, according to Green. ” One of our qualifications is that they have to be in substandard housing and they have to be able to make the payments . A lot of people think that Habitat builds these houses and gives them to (partner families) for free but that is not true. We actually sell them the houses at cost. We build the houses with a lot of volunteer labor and at reduced costs. The people (partners) actually pay us back in the form of mortgage payments like any other house but in this case it is at no interest,” Green continued.
If you would like to support this ministry, you may send your donation to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, PO Box 750, Smithville TN 37166. “We are asking people to partner with us. If you would like to give a donation to Habitat we would certainly appreciate it. This is really a worthwhile ministry for people. It really helps people out,” said Green.
Groundbreaking for the new home will be coming soon. “We would like to break ground on this house just as soon as the weather breaks. We’re almost to the point where we can do that,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Habitat is currently accepting applications for a sixth partner family in 2015. An information meeting, including assistance with the application, will be held Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. at the Smithville First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center next to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend.
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