Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1978 by Christian missionary and lawyer, Millard Fuller, in the belief that everyone should have a “safe, decent place to call home.”
New Habitat executive director in Lawrence, Erika Zimmerman, and Habitat Board President Lindsey Slater, told Lawrence Central Rotarians on Wednesday that since 1990 Habitat has built 88 homes in Lawrence. And In 2005 Habitat opened the ReStore at 7th and Connecticut which accepts and resells new and used building material, furniture and appliances with the proceeds going to support Habitat.
“Lawrence is unique,” Zimmerman said “in that we have unusual resources in terms of donated time, labor, art, furniture, you name it.”
Families who don’t nave money to buy a home without assistance but have a stable income, no excessive debt and will commit to 225 hours of sweat equity are eligible. They take classes and make monthly mortgage payments. Their income must fall between the HUD Median income guidelines.
“The houses cost around $85,000 to build , primarily by volunteer labor, and are sold to the families through no interest mortgages. The payments don’t exceed 30% of the family’s income.”
Zimmerman said Habitat’s goals in Lawrence are to build six homes per year by 2018, and to raise $450,000 by then. “Our biggest problem is finding and affording land’” she said.
“And we want to utilize our volunteer pool to the fullest. Millard Fuller said ‘The work of Habitat has literally moved forward on the shoulders of volunteers.’ “
For more information about the Lawrence chapter of Habitat visit their website.
