Friday, February 7, 2003
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Friday, February 7, 2003 |
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Habitat seminar is Sunday Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity will hold its annual Partner Family Orientation Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Central Education Center, on Martin Luther King Drive in Newnan. The one-hour program will explain the program and tell how to apply for a Habitat for Humanity home. A volunteer who is fluent in Spanish will be on hand to assist those from the Latino community. Habitat for Humanity builds houses in partnership with people in need, selling them for interest-free mortgages. Families are selected based on their willingness to partner, ability to pay, and their housing need. Families must be willing to work at least 300 hours of sweat equity, make 25-50% of the average income for the county, be willing to pay off bad debts, and demonstrate a need for housing. "The program is quite simple in concept, but not easy," said Carol Freund, chair of the selection committee. "Families must be very self-motivated and willing to work for their homes." "A popular misconception is that Habitat builds houses and gives them away for free. That's simply not true," stated Melanie Gross, Habitat's executive director in Coweta County. "Our families not only work to help build the houses, but they also pay an interest-free mortgage." House payments average 25-30 percent of the family's net income. The house payments are put into the "Fund for Humanity" and used to build more houses. "We are not only the general contractor, we're also the mortgage company, so we're able use payments to support our ministry. This year our homeowners' payments will almost completely fund a new house for another family!" Mrs. Gross added. Families also contribute to the community through their property taxes. "Last year the families paid almost $7000 (in property taxes). Communities are strengthened by homeowners. Our goal is to make this county as strong as possible." The program will begin promptly at 3 p.m. and is open to the first 200 people who come. It will be held in Room 800 at the CEC. Signs will be posted.
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