The Oxford-Lafayette Habitat for Humanity Affiliate dedicated their 13th Habitat House on Sunday as the Carrothers family was presented their new home.
Nakia Carrothers, single mother of Zell Pettis, 19, and Alnayiah Dean, 14, said it was a buyer’s market when the family began searching for a home to purchase. She does admit, however, that the available housing would still be highly priced despite having an ideal market. The family just couldn’t afford to pay a traditional mortgage with long term, traditional interest rates.
“It was still really expensive,” she said. “Having a son that was getting ready to go to college, we just needed something more affordable where the interest rate wasn’t astronomical.”
Caitlin Hopper, president of the Oxford-Lafayette chapter, dispels the myth that Habitat for Humanity builds homes for free.
“We have church donations, but in a lot of ways it’s a self-funding system,” Hopper said.
The organization provides no-interest loans and homeowners build up 500 work hours on the home and once they receive their loan, they pay it back over time without interest. This offers the homeowners a much lower mortgage payment option than a normal payment due to no-interest and low cost volunteer labor.
Hopper said the organization is designed to help those in financial trouble afford a home the proper way rather than just simply having someone pay their mortgage for them.
“We don’t partner with people who can’t repay the loan because, otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to sustain the organization and continue building,” she said. “The whole idea is to break the cycle of poverty and give people a hand up instead of a handout.”
Hopper said volunteers have come out nearly every Saturday since November 2011, with the number of participants ranging from zero to nearly fifty on some weekends.
“We have a lot of community members come out, but this semester especially, there has been a tremendous amount of student participation,” she said
Justin Kilburn, a community member and pipefitter by trade, said Habitat for Humanity provided him with the opportunity to help those in need in his community.
“I called up the local Habitat chapter and found out where they were working,” Kilburn said. “I’ve worked here five or six times doing general labor, siding, and installing the toilets. I’m pretty proud to be a part of it.”
Chris Stasny, a retiree in the Oxford community, heard about the Habitat House construction through fellow church members at Oxford University United Methodist Church. He was excited to help because of his experience with construction work and remodeling.
“It’s good to come and do something for someone else, but really, it makes me feel good,” Stasny said. “That’s what I like about it.”
Carrothers said those who are feeling low should pay a visit to Habitat for Humanity, who will show them there is always hope.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling to come out here and everyone is working like it’s their own home,” Carrother said. “It gives you a great deal of pride to work alongside people with such compassion. We’ll definitely continue working with Habitat so we will be able to give back after so many people have given to us.”
Caitlin Hopper encourages any students interested in participating in the upcoming Oxford area construction sites to send an email to oxfordhabitat@gmail.com.
— Jessi Ballard
