Friday, October 10, 2003
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Friday, October 10, 2003 |
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Habitat orientation Set for Sunday Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity will hold an orientation/information meeting for potential new partner families Oct. 12 from 1-3 p.m. at the Central Education Center, 160 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Newnan. Habitat for Humanity builds houses in partnership with families in need and sells them to the families for interest-free mortgages. Families are selected based on three criteria: ability to pay, willingness to partner and housing need. Since all families will pay off an interest-free mortgage, their ability to pay is important in the selection process. A family’s ability to pay is usually determined by their current income level. They must make 25-50 percent of the average income of the county, based on family size. For example, for a family of four, that would be $13,300-$26,600 a year from all income sources. Families with bad debts must be willing to pay those debts off before moving into the house. Like any other mortgage company, Habitat for Humanity doesn’t want to put families in a mortgage they are not able to pay because of other commitments. House payments are about $350 per month, including escrow, for current mortgages. “Willingness to partner” is a family’s commitment to Habitat and to working on their house. Families are required to work “sweat equity” hours, which is usually work on homes for others before helping to build their own. If a family is physically unable to work on a home because of a disability, Habitat will work with that family to find others ways for them to work the required number of hours. And, since Habitat’s goal is to eliminate substandard housing, current living conditions are inspected to be certain the family is living in substandard conditions. “This is a different time of the year than our last two information meetings, so we wanted to be sure to get the word out,” said Melanie Gross, executive director. “We’ve found ourselves in need of new families sooner than we expected. Since the families are all required to complete their sweat equity before moving into their homes, it’s very important that we give them adequate time to get that done.” She further commented that it can take 12-18 months from the time of selection before a family moves into their home. Carol Freund, the chair of the Habitat’s Selection Committee, emphasized that families must attend this orientation meeting. “This meeting isn’t optional,” Freund said. “If a family doesn’t attend, they won’t be considered for this selection round. Families attending will receive their information packet and all of the necessary forms and have many of their questions answered at the meeting.” The program begins promptly at 1 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. Habitat is currently seeking donations toward the construction of their next house. All funds must be in place before construction can begin. If you have any questions about Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity, the orientation or the selection process, please contact the Habitat office at 770-252-9049.
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