Habitat homes change lives
Volunteers needed to complete 10th house
By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Linda Dickerson brought a little extra inspiration to show what Habitat for Humanity can do for a family in St. Francois County. So, after she talked about how Habitat makes the dream of home ownership come true, she introduced one of the dreamers. Paula Franks and her two children will move into the 10th house built by Habitat.
“This is a great opportunity for somebody like me trying so hard to provide for their family and I encourage any single parent, or any family, to apply to be a Habitat family,” said Franks. “This is going to be a place where me and my children will make memories for a long time.”
The two spoke at the first 4th Friday Luncheon of the new school year at Mineral Area College.
Habitat does not give homes to families. They must qualify based on income and demonstrate their ability to make monthly house payments and their desire to maintain the property. They prefer 20-year mortgages. Families pay no interest and Habitat makes no profit. The average house payment is $425 and the payments go toward paying for the next home. The homes are built by volunteers.
Each family must complete 400 hours of sweat equity by working alongside Habitat volunteers to build their home.
“Anybody can volunteer,” said Dickerson, who is the Executive Director of Habitat. “If you can give a half hour or a whole day, we can use you. If you don’t think you have a skill that would help to build a house, we can show you.”
Volunteers need to be at least 16 years old to work on building the house, but Dickerson said even children can help pick up trash and clean up at the work site.
One woman in the crowd talked about how she learned to do electrical wiring on one house and Dickerson assured her the house is still standing! She said even cooks are needed to provide lunches for workers.
The Franks’ home will be built at 115 W. School Street in Bonne Terre. Work on the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath home could begin as soon as next week. Depending upon the number of volunteers and the weather, it’s taken as long as 18 months to build one house. Franks said as she has put her life back together after some tough times, she’s realized good things come to those who wait. She’s earned her degree from MAC, is working on completing her Bachelor’s degree and has a job as Court Advocate for the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council.
“God has blessed me with Habitat For Humanity and being involved in other people’s lives,” said Franks. “Life does get hard, but this does restore your faith that there are good people out there to help you.”
Franks said the Habitat project has excited her children so much that one of them wants to help build them in Africa.
Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County was incorporated on Feb. 17, 1998 with the purpose of improving the housing needs of low and very low-income families and eliminating poverty housing in St. Francois County.
Habitat has built nine new homes in Farmington, Desloge and Bonne Terre and set a goal of doubling and then tripling the number built each year. After the 10th house is done in Bonne Terre, there are plans to build two more — one in Farmington for Cindy Dodson and one in Park Hills for Dawn Herbert. Dickerson said $80,000 must be raised to buy the materials to build each house. Churches help support Habitat, which also received a grant from the United Way.
To volunteer or make a donation, call 573-701-1702.
Officers for the organization are Chairperson, Ed Pultz; Vice Chair, Maudie Kelly; Secretary, Rev. Brian Schaefer; and Treasurer, Laurie Sundhausen.
The next 4th Friday Luncheon will be Sept. 26, featuring the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.
“This is a great opportunity for somebody like me trying so hard to provide for their family and I encourage any single parent, or any family, to apply to be a Habitat family,” said Franks. “This is going to be a place where me and my children will make memories for a long time.”
The two spoke at the first 4th Friday Luncheon of the new school year at Mineral Area College.
Habitat does not give homes to families. They must qualify based on income and demonstrate their ability to make monthly house payments and their desire to maintain the property. They prefer 20-year mortgages. Families pay no interest and Habitat makes no profit. The average house payment is $425 and the payments go toward paying for the next home. The homes are built by volunteers.
Each family must complete 400 hours of sweat equity by working alongside Habitat volunteers to build their home.
“Anybody can volunteer,” said Dickerson, who is the Executive Director of Habitat. “If you can give a half hour or a whole day, we can use you. If you don’t think you have a skill that would help to build a house, we can show you.”
Volunteers need to be at least 16 years old to work on building the house, but Dickerson said even children can help pick up trash and clean up at the work site.
One woman in the crowd talked about how she learned to do electrical wiring on one house and Dickerson assured her the house is still standing! She said even cooks are needed to provide lunches for workers.
The Franks’ home will be built at 115 W. School Street in Bonne Terre. Work on the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath home could begin as soon as next week. Depending upon the number of volunteers and the weather, it’s taken as long as 18 months to build one house. Franks said as she has put her life back together after some tough times, she’s realized good things come to those who wait. She’s earned her degree from MAC, is working on completing her Bachelor’s degree and has a job as Court Advocate for the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council.
“God has blessed me with Habitat For Humanity and being involved in other people’s lives,” said Franks. “Life does get hard, but this does restore your faith that there are good people out there to help you.”
Franks said the Habitat project has excited her children so much that one of them wants to help build them in Africa.
Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County was incorporated on Feb. 17, 1998 with the purpose of improving the housing needs of low and very low-income families and eliminating poverty housing in St. Francois County.
Habitat has built nine new homes in Farmington, Desloge and Bonne Terre and set a goal of doubling and then tripling the number built each year. After the 10th house is done in Bonne Terre, there are plans to build two more — one in Farmington for Cindy Dodson and one in Park Hills for Dawn Herbert. Dickerson said $80,000 must be raised to buy the materials to build each house. Churches help support Habitat, which also received a grant from the United Way.
To volunteer or make a donation, call 573-701-1702.
Officers for the organization are Chairperson, Ed Pultz; Vice Chair, Maudie Kelly; Secretary, Rev. Brian Schaefer; and Treasurer, Laurie Sundhausen.
The next 4th Friday Luncheon will be Sept. 26, featuring the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.
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