March 29, 2000
Habitat for Humanity home how-to
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
People who qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home are referred to as partners. This word reflects the organization's philosophy of not just giving away a home to a needy family but helping them earn it and learn the skills needed to keep it.
To become a partner with Habitat for Humanity, a family first has to demonstrate that they have inadequate, crowded or unsafe housing. Housing affordability is another issue and if a family's income is 60 percent or below the median for their county of residence they may qualify for Habitat help.
A Habitat partner must be willing to contribute 275 hours of sweat equity, which can come from volunteering in other capacities in addition to helping build your own home. In addition, they must have a steady income that will support monthly mortgage payments of approximately $350 per month.
The organization offers counseling to help people pay bills, make a budget and get their credit into shape.
"Partners need to have to have a steady, stable job and good credit," said Onalee Marsh, executive director of the Grand Traverse Area Habitat for Humanity. "If some do have bad credit history, which is not unusual when you are at that income level living paycheck to paycheck, we help them get their credit in shape."
"We work with them over a six-month period and offer a good support network to ensure that they do become a successful homeowner."
The homes Habitat for Humanity builds are standard designs with varying number of bedrooms depending on family size. They are modest homes adapted for the local environment and follow the organization's three guiding principles: housing that is simple, decent and affordable.
People thinking of applying for Habitat for Humanity need not worry if they are not experienced in construction trades. Experienced builders strictly supervise the sweat equity time during the actual building of a home.
"It is so much fun to build a house," said Molly Miske-Sutton of Traverse City, who is earning sweat equity hours toward her home. "You don't even have to know anything because you have people there who direct you."
Marsh stated that her organization receives an average of 3-10 phone calls every day. Last year they had 34 applications for 10 homes, seven of which will be built this year. By 2004, the organization's strategic plan is to build 12 homes in Grand Traverse county and have split off the other three counties it serves - Benzie, Kalkaska and Leelanau - into affiliates of their own. While there will be no shortage of need, land and money are the biggest hurdles locally.
"It is so satisfying to help with something so tangible to a family as building a home," Marsh said. "We are a Christian ministry, not just a construction program."