This article comes from the Monday, March 28, 2005 edition of The Post.

Athens Habitat for Humanity increases output uses built
Group wants families to help build

by Ben Saylor
Staff Writer

The Athens branch of Habitat for Humanity is building four houses this year and hopes to build five more next year, a big increase compared to when the branch first opened and averaged one house every 18 months.

Habitat has been in Athens County since 1990 and has built 16 houses, according to Ann Charles Watts, executive director for the Athens Habitat.

The application process for Habitat is composed of several steps. A family in need of a home must attend an applicant meeting where the process is explained.

The 12-member Family Selection Committee. The committee evaluates the applications based on need, ability to pay back an interest-free, no-profit loan and willingness to partner with Habitat on the construction of their own house and other homes, Watts said.

If the applicant meets the income requirement, the committee begins a series of three visits, each done by two different committee members. The first visit is for the committee to get to know the family, determine what bills and other financial items need to be settled and also make sure the family is willing to partner, Watts said.

During the second visit, the committee members review the family's credit check and other financial issues. The third visit is mainly used to clear up any of the commitee's remaining questions. Following this, the committee deliberates and comes to consensus -every member must agree for the family's application to be approved. If a family is accepted, the committee passes on their recommendation to the 16-member Governing Board.

Volunteers help build the homes, along with the family members who will be living there. Habitat requires the head of the household to spend at least 250 hours working on the house and for every other adult to contribute at least 200 hours.

Keith Weston, a resident of a Habitat house, put in more than his 250 required hours. Weston estimated that he has worked at least 2,000 hours on his home, utilizing his own woodworking skills.

Weston, his wife and their three children initially became involved with Habitat through Weston's mother, who wanted her son's family to move out of their trailer. It was she, Weston said, who brought him to an applicant meeting and helped him fill out the application.

Weston and a group of volunteers built his house in about a year. He is still active in the organization, having helped out with the building of other houses and anticipating the building of a new house being near his own this spring.

He also takes his friends to applicant meetings if he thinks they could benefit from Habitat.

"You can't get a better deal than (Habitat)," he said. "I sure couldn't have done it on my own."

Habitat is also active on the Ohio University campus. A student coalition, operating independently from the Athens branch, works to raise money for house builds through a variety of activities, including a Valentine's Day sale of flowers and cookies and an upcoming 5k race.

Jennifer D'Angelo, co-president of the OU group, says there are no more builds for their group for this year, but they have one coming up in the fall. In the meantime, they will try to raise as much money as possible to cover costs.

Meeting costs and fund raising are common themes among all the Habitat coalitions. Watts said the United Appeal organization helps cover their administration and overhead costs. Of all the people that serve on Habitat's many committees and boards, however, Watts is the only paid staff.

Construction costs, Watts says, are covered by a variety of donors, including local businesses and community members. The homeowner mortgages paid by residents of Habitat homes also go into a revolving fund that helps build future homes.