Habitat breaks ground for latest home

10th house to be built in Bonne Terre

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Thursday, September 18, 2008 8:49 AM CDT

U. S. Bank employees present a check from U.S. Bancorp Foundation to Linda Dickerson, third from left, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County. From left: Becky Thompson, Laddie Cross, Dickerson, Andy Buchanan, George Blackmon and Mary Forest. - Submitted photo

Ground has been broken in Bonne Terre for House Number 10, built by Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County. The foundation footings are going in at the site of the new home at 115 W. School Street.

“Saturday, Oct. 4, will be out first official work day on the house,” said Linda Dickerson, Executive Director of Habitat. “We will also hold a trivia fund-raising event that same evening.”

She said the location of the trivia event is being determined.

U.S. Bank has given a grant in the amount of $2,500 to Habitat. Other donations are needed, as well as volunteers. To take part in building the house in Bonne Terre, contact Dickerson at 573-760-1702.

The house in Bonne Terre will be for Paula Franks and her two children. As one of the requirements for being selected as a Habitat family, the Franks family must put in 400 hours of “sweat equity” in helping to build the 3-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath home.

Families must qualify based on income and demonstrate their ability to make monthly house payments and demonstrate 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.

Dickerson said volunteers are taught how to do the work that’s required. While they need to be at least 16 years old to work in construction, she said even children can help pick up trash and clean up the work site.

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.

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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