Dan Early, President, Board of Directors, the Singleton – Anderson family (Shailea Anderson; Aviah, 4; Tyler Singleton, Emily, 1).
Wabash, IN (July 16, 2016) – Wabash County Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce the selection of the two next Partner Homeowners, the Kling family and the Singleton – Anderson family.
Kevin Kling and his three children are excited that they soon will have a home to call their own. Wabash County Habitat received a donation of property on 4th Street in North Manchester, which is currently the projected build site. Habitat is hoping to complete construction by mid-November. Tyler Singleton, Shailea Anderson, and their 2 children will be working towards owning a home in North Manchester; their home is slated to be built in 2017.
A partner homeowner is selected based on three criteria: Need, Willingness to Partner, and Ability to Pay. Need is based on calculations of a family’s rent expense to total income and current living conditions (whether they are unsafe or overcrowded). Ability to pay is based on the partner family’s job history and demonstrated ability to manage one’s financial resources. Willingness to Partner is also known as sweat equity. Sweat equity refers to the actual hands-on involvement of partner homeowners in the construction of their own Habitat homes, as well as participation in other Habitat and community activities. Sweat equity is a Partner Homeowner’s physical and emotional investment in the mission of Habitat.
Habitat for Humanity requires sweat equity for several reasons. Sweat equity provides meaningful interaction between Partner Homeowners, Habitat staff, Habitat volunteers and donors, and the community. It builds pride in homeownership; by investing sweat equity hours in their home, it helps families transition to home ownership. It also helps develop skills and knowledge about homeownership. Partner homeowners gain a real understanding of the construction of their home and the maintenance issues they may face after occupancy.
Wabash County Habitat for Humanity anticipates opening up applications September 1st for a second new home build in 2017, and potentially, a remodel for this coming winter. Please check the organization’s Facebook page closer to September 1 for more information about the application cycle.
Wabash County Habitat for Humanity is twenty-four years old. During that time, Habitat has worked with volunteers, donors, churches, business and local government throughout Wabash County to build seventeen affordable homes located in Lafontaine, North Manchester, Roann, Servia and Wabash. The organization is not currently accepting applications for partner homeowners, however, you may follow the Facebook page to be updated for the next application cycle. The Habitat office located at 375 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. If you would like more information about Habitat for Humanity or to support Habitat’s work as a volunteer or donor contact Maggie Wimberly at 260-563-9188 or maggiew@wabashhabitat.org. You can also keep up to date with Habitat through Facebook at www.facebook.com/WabashCountyHabitat.
Wabash County Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty and substandard housing worldwide. We build or renovate simple, decent affordable housing for people in need, who purchase the homes through a no profit mortgage. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.