Habitat names new directors, plans new house
By LYNDA STRINGER - Tribune City Editor
Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:30 AM CST
Habitat for Humanity's Mount Pleasant chapter is looking ahead to a new year and a new building project after naming its new slate of officers and board members.
The new board includes President Claude Alexander, Vice President Paul Lindsey,
Treasurer Brian Lee, Secretary Pam Smith and board members Galand Nuchols, Rev. Lenn Deloney, Tom Nuchols, Jim Harmon and Veronica Silva.
Habitat Executive Director Debbie Renner said the group is planning its next build and has selected the family. Habitat will not introduce the family until they have completed a required number of volunteer hours.
"They are already working toward their hours. They have to work 150 hours of sweat equity before we can break ground and consider that house theirs," Renner said. "We won't announce the family until they have finished those hours and the foundation is poured."
Habitat, which owns several city lots, is required to start work on one house each year. The board has not yet decided on the location for the new house.
"The site selection committee will meet to begin searching for the next lot and we'll start the project by the end of the year," Renner said.
To qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home in Mount Pleasant, applicants must earn a minimum of $22,150 and earn no more than $35,450.
Habitat for Humanity chapters have different sets of requirements, Renner said.
"In our program, you don't have to have a down payment. In lieu of a down payment, they have to work a minimum of 400 hours. Those hours must be completed by the time they move in, 150 hours before we break ground," she said.
The applicants can work at any civic or nonprofit organization or take classes at Home Depot and Lowes. Hours spent working on their home or another Habitat home count toward their sweat equity. They are also required to take a 13-week budget class, which is also credited toward their hours.
The hardest thing for the nonprofit organization, Renner said, is finding qualified applicants.
Either they make too much money or they don't make enough or they haven't been on their job long enough or their expectations are too high," she said.
However, the local chapter currently has some qualified applicants and may be able to start two houses next year.
"We're blessed with that," Renner said.
Habitat cannot accomplish its work, however, without the help of volunteers in the community.
"We're putting together a volunteer committee that is going to schedule work days and get a good group of volunteers on the site," said incoming president Claude Alexander.
Alexander, who has been a member of the board for four years and served as president in 2006-2007, encouraged others in the community to get involved with Habitat's work.
"Many people would feel a sense of personal satisfaction, knowing that they've contributed in a physical way, rather than just reaching in their pocketbook, to help somebody that might not otherwise have decent, affordable housing," Alexander said.
Paul Lindsey is new to the Habitat board.
"I had heard a lot of good information about the things that Habitat has done for this community. I think they work with a lot of families that really need their help," Lindsey said. "It's the one way that some of the families can become homeowners, so I think it is important for all of us to volunteer to help Habitat extends the good work that they do in the community."
The new board held a party for Gloria Martinez and her family on Sunday to celebrate her final mortgage payment that she made last month. The Martinez home - built in 1994 -- was the first Habitat for Humanity home in Mount Pleasant.
"Her whole family was there at the party and her son said that when his mother came from Mexico she had a dream of owning her own home," said board member Galand Nuchols. "Habitat made that dream come true. He said, ‘We not only built the house, we built the foundation for the family.' This is one of our families that makes me feel really good that we are a part of their lives and that I was able to do just a little bit to help her dream come true."
