Since completing their first home in 1995, the Calhoun County Habitat for Humanity has built 129 homes for people in our area who needed a hand up into better living conditions.The two homes most recently completed are one in Oxford, which was built in partnership with Auburn University, and one in Jacksonville, built in the memory of Carol Smith, who for many years gave of her time and money to help Habitat projects.
“Carol was very – I’ll just say she gave some donations to Habitat in addition to monetary donations, she also spent time helping us as a volunteer,” said Ron Hindman, executive director of Calhoun County Habitat for Humanity as he spoke to the Jacksonville Exchange Club on Feb. 28.
Habitat is unique in its approach to providing housing for those who need it. Their homeowners are given interest-free mortgages and reasonable monthly payment schedules, but they have to work for their new home also.
“We are a non-profit Christian ministry and we are building houses in partnership with families that need homes and we do this on the basis of getting the family members through a process of education and orientation,” said Hindman.
Those helped by Habitat pass through a 12-member selection team and are chosen based upon certain criteria.
“This is a partnership agreement we have with the families that are selected and approved,” said Hindman, telling the Exchangites that homeowners have to agree to volunteer and have to have a need. “The condition they’re living in right now is one such that we probably shouldn’t have to be living in those conditions.”
Once the house is built and the keys are handed over to the new owner, the job of Habitat doesn’t stop. Volunteers also take the time to make sure the new owner knows how to do preventative maintenance on the house.
“We’ll take them out to an existing home and a plumber will explain to them the things that a new homeowners have to go through. We’ll have an electrician go through. We’ll have a heating and air conditioning guy tell them how to change air filters and why it’s important to change them,” said Hindman.
Coming upon a Habitat house site, you’ll see local business people working, the homeowners and perhaps some of their children, volunteers from throughout the county and, quite often, a few volunteers from other states.
As spring break nears, college students from across the country head away from their hometowns with relaxation on their minds, but some make a special journey to Habitat sites in need of a few extra hands.
“It’s rewarding to see that and to work with college students like that,” said Hindman.
The purpose of Habitat for Humanity is not simply to build houses; they are working to put lives back together.
“We’ve found in studies all across the United States, and the same is true in Calhoun County, the marked improvement of grades. Prior to owning a house of their own, the grades were significantly lower. Most of them were classified as children who were probably not going to go anyplace or get anywhere. What we found is an almost 180-degree turnaround in the way they’ve changed and improved in school,” said Hindman
Calhoun County Habitat has a goal to build seven or eight houses this year and they need volunteers and donations in order to accomplish that goal. Volunteers don’t necessarily have to know how to swing a hammer or use a table saw, volunteers for the ReStore business, some help with web design for their webpage and cooks are also helpful. After all, someone has to feed the volunteers working on the houses.
“Occasionally we may have a need to host some out-of-town volunteers,” said Hindman. “Of course, we’ll always take money. Contributions are always welcome.”
To volunteer your time, make a donation or find out more about the program, call Habitat for Humanity at 237-3700.
