Friday, December 13, 2002
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Friday, December 13, 2002 |
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Habitat for Humanity bringing holidays to a homeowner "Home for the holidays" has a lot of meanings to a lot of people but this year for the Vanderford family of Coweta it has an even more special meaning than most. The Vanderfords, with the help of Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity, are trying to complete and purchase their own home on Fisher Street in Newnan for the holidays. But the house is not yet complete. According to Melanie Gross, executive director of the NCHFH, "We are about $30,000 away from completing the construction." She adds, "Everyone deserves adequate shelter not just for the holidays but all year round. Habitat for Humanity accepts donations from individuals and organizations as well as labor and in-kind donations on the building projects themselves." Families are selected to work with NCHFH to build their homes based on specific criteria including the family's ability to pay. Each family must have a total long-term debt to income ratio of 35-40 percent. They must also have recent verifiable on-time payment history and be able to make an $800 down payment before closing on their new home. In addition, there can have been no bankruptcy one year prior to application and an 18-month plan must be worked out for any outstanding collections or judgments. Each family must also show a willingness to partner with Habitat by attending an orientation session, working the required sweat equity hours and attending educational workshops offered in home management and home maintenance skills. Of course the family's need for housing is also a consideration. A visit to the current home is conducted in order to evaluate both future housing needs and current housing conditions. "Our goal at Habitat for Humanity is to partner with others in the community and completely eliminate poverty housing in Coweta County. You would be surprised by the amount of sub-standard housing in our community but it's not simply a matter of building houses. We're also building lives," said Melanie Gross. The Vanderford family was selected by Habitat to purchase a house earlier this year. The Vanderfords are a great example of the diligence most Habitat families display with working toward their dream of owning a their own home. They completed their 500-hour sweat equity obligation with Habitat before construction on their home ever started. Joey and Debbie are counting the days until they can move their mother and two children out their horribly maintained rental home. Their current home has plaster falling from the walls, rotten floors in the bathroom and kitchen and old leaking windows. Construction on the new home began Sept. 28 with a donation of $10,000 from Excel Corporation. This generous gift allowed the house to be "dried-in." Additional donations from Home Depot and Publix have kept the work going but there is still a lot to be done if the Vanderfords are to be in their new home by Christmas. Individual and in-kind donations are needed as well as corporate gifts in order to get the materials necessary to complete this home for Christmas. Habitat is also looking for volunteers, crews and material donations to complete the Vanderford home. Crews will be at work on the Fisher Street house Dec. 14 and 21. Individuals or organization willing to provide flooring (the cost is about $1,300), cabinets, doors, plumbing ($2,000) or electricity are needed. "A donation to Habitat is a great gift for the person who has everything or as a way to honor someone who has made your life better." said Goss. "Many families give to Habitat at Christmas time as a way of remembering the way the Holy Family struggled to find shelter as well." You can contact the Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity at (770) 252-9049 or nchfh@newnanbiz.net.
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