Sweet Home Habitat for Humanity celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a pancake supper, a new family selection cycle and a need for property.
In April 1994, Sweet Home became affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International. Since that time, Sweet Home Habitat has built seven modest, decent homes in town.
Following Habitat guidelines, the organization builds homes in partnership with families who cannot afford traditional housing costs. The family contributes “sweat equity” hours to work alongside volunteers.
When the house is finished, it is sold to the family at no interest. The family then makes house payments and pays property taxes like any other homeowner.
Habitat’s eighth home is under construction near Hawthorne School for the Judy Howerton family. This is a unique situation. Habitat is working with Youth Build, a program that teaches construction skills to young people.
With so many hands, this project is going quickly. The next family is Richard and Desiree Hardee and their two children. Their home will be built on a donated lot. Construction will begin when the Howerton home is complete.
Sweet Home Habitat faces a situation common to most of the country, lack of land. This is often the biggest expense and can push the final price out of reach for Habitat partner families.
Habitat can often use smaller or odd-shaped lots inside or outside city limits, and it needs donors or persons who can sell below market.
Habitat is a nonprofit organization, and gifts can be tax deductible.
The pancake supper is 6 p.m. on March 31. It costs $4 per person. It includes pancakes, ham, eggs, juice and coffee. Tickets are available at the door or at 367-2678.
Sweet Home Habitat invites persons interested in applying to attend meetings at 10 a.m. on April 19, 7 p.m. on April 20 and 10 a.m. on April 24.
All meetings will be held at the Habitat office in the Sweet Home Emergency Ministries building, 4101 Hwy. 20. Each meeting will be identical and explain the program, distribute applications and answer questions.
For more information, persons may call 367-1292 or 367-2678.