Steve Mullen and Dave Cruz working on the house.Photo by Ken Hartman.
Thank you to The Frankfort Times, Ken Hartman, and Brian Peloza for letting us use this picture and story that ran in their paper! I have copied the story below.
Habitat for Humanity making single mom's dream come true
For Misty Pierce, her dream of owning her own home is about to come true, thanks to Habitat for Humanity. "I'm so excited about it," Pierce said. "I'm a single mom with two little girls (ages 2 and 4) living in an apartment. Now, I get to have a home. It's a blessing."
Pierce, along with volunteers with Habitat, are currently working on rehabilitating the house at 502 W. Jefferson St. in Colfax. Work on the house, which will be three bedrooms and two baths, began in mid-January and the hope is it will be ready in a month.
Pierce said her first impression of Habitat for Humanity was far different than what she first thought. "When I first found out about Habitat, I always thought it was for people who were way down and out on their luck," she said. I didn't realize it was for people like myself, hard-working that is trying to provide something for my family. I work a full-time job, but I can't afford a full mortgage on my own. Now, with their help, I am able to buy a home that's going to be great for me and my family. It's a dream come true."
Steve Mullen, president of the Habitat for Humanity board of directors, said the project in Colfax is a little different for them. "This home is kind of a new project for us in one way because it is a manufactured home and we purchased this out of a foreclosure situation," Mullen said. "We are reworking it on the inside as well as doing fix up and general work on the house."
Mullen, who was the swim coach at Frankfort High School for 30 years, said Habitat normally does one house per year. However, this year has been busier.
"We've worked on three homes this year," Mullen said. "We finished a house in May. We purchased a rehab home in Frankfort in November, and the family moved in May. And we bought this one about three to four months ago and think we'll have this one done in about a month or so."
He added most rehabilitation projects take four to five months, and it usually takes around a year if the house is started from scratch. Most of the houses range from 980 square feet for a two bedroom, to 1,200 square feet for a four bedroom.
Habitat has three basic requirements that must be met. Individuals must be in some kind of housing crisis situation where they are in substandard housing, or it is priced above their income. They have to have enough income to be able to afford one of Habitat's mortgages and some kind of income, plus they must be willing to partner with Habitat by putting sweat equity into their own home or other homes prior to moving in.
Mullen said the mortgages are a 20-year, non-interest bearing mortgage and added that Habitat must be able to fund that up front.
"We haven't had any foreclosures on the 16 houses we've built in Clinton County, and we want to keep it that way," Mullen said. "The whole idea is for the family to have a simple, decent home at an affordable price."
The group is always in need of volunteers, according to Mullen. Those interested must be at least 16 years old. Basic carpentry and home improvement skills are a plus, but there are many ways for individuals to help. Work is done every day with the exception of Sunday, and work can also be scheduled on days and times when volunteers are available.
For more information about Habitat and volunteering, contact Mullen at 242-6877.
Habitat for Humanity making single mom's dream come true
For Misty Pierce, her dream of owning her own home is about to come true, thanks to Habitat for Humanity. "I'm so excited about it," Pierce said. "I'm a single mom with two little girls (ages 2 and 4) living in an apartment. Now, I get to have a home. It's a blessing."
Pierce, along with volunteers with Habitat, are currently working on rehabilitating the house at 502 W. Jefferson St. in Colfax. Work on the house, which will be three bedrooms and two baths, began in mid-January and the hope is it will be ready in a month.
Pierce said her first impression of Habitat for Humanity was far different than what she first thought. "When I first found out about Habitat, I always thought it was for people who were way down and out on their luck," she said. I didn't realize it was for people like myself, hard-working that is trying to provide something for my family. I work a full-time job, but I can't afford a full mortgage on my own. Now, with their help, I am able to buy a home that's going to be great for me and my family. It's a dream come true."
Steve Mullen, president of the Habitat for Humanity board of directors, said the project in Colfax is a little different for them. "This home is kind of a new project for us in one way because it is a manufactured home and we purchased this out of a foreclosure situation," Mullen said. "We are reworking it on the inside as well as doing fix up and general work on the house."
Mullen, who was the swim coach at Frankfort High School for 30 years, said Habitat normally does one house per year. However, this year has been busier.
"We've worked on three homes this year," Mullen said. "We finished a house in May. We purchased a rehab home in Frankfort in November, and the family moved in May. And we bought this one about three to four months ago and think we'll have this one done in about a month or so."
He added most rehabilitation projects take four to five months, and it usually takes around a year if the house is started from scratch. Most of the houses range from 980 square feet for a two bedroom, to 1,200 square feet for a four bedroom.
Habitat has three basic requirements that must be met. Individuals must be in some kind of housing crisis situation where they are in substandard housing, or it is priced above their income. They have to have enough income to be able to afford one of Habitat's mortgages and some kind of income, plus they must be willing to partner with Habitat by putting sweat equity into their own home or other homes prior to moving in.
Mullen said the mortgages are a 20-year, non-interest bearing mortgage and added that Habitat must be able to fund that up front.
"We haven't had any foreclosures on the 16 houses we've built in Clinton County, and we want to keep it that way," Mullen said. "The whole idea is for the family to have a simple, decent home at an affordable price."
The group is always in need of volunteers, according to Mullen. Those interested must be at least 16 years old. Basic carpentry and home improvement skills are a plus, but there are many ways for individuals to help. Work is done every day with the exception of Sunday, and work can also be scheduled on days and times when volunteers are available.
For more information about Habitat and volunteering, contact Mullen at 242-6877.
