Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Future homeowners ‘ecstatic’ to be chosen for Habitat house
FAIRFIELD – Austin Crochet said he and his girlfriend were “ecstatic” when they learned they had been chosen to receive a house from Greater Fairfield Area Habitat for Humanity.
The house is located on North 12th Street in the northwest corner of Fairfield where Habitat purchased land from FEDA for its homes. Crochet, along with Habitat for Humanity member Mary Webb and part-time construction manager Jerry Leonard, took advantage of Saturday’s beautiful weather to work on the house by waterproofing the foam around the foundation for a baseboard.
Crochet, like all future Habitat homeowners, is required to contribute 200 hours in “sweat equity” either by helping to build the home or working at Habitat ReStore. This home that’s being finished now was prefabricated, built by Iowa Prison Industries and delivered to Fairfield in December. Even still, there’s work that can only be done on-site, like adding the decks, stairs and other odd jobs.
Crochet said putting in the sweat equity is no problem for him, since he’s worked in construction his whole adult life, and has a job with Schaus-Vorhies where he helps build steel buildings.
“I’ve done remodeling and I’ve done fresh construction from the ground up,” Crochet said. “This is second nature to me. I could probably do it in my sleep.”
Crochet said he, his girlfriend and her son are looking forward to having a place all their own, where they don’t have to share walls with a neighbor.
“Our little boy likes to be a little rowdy and make noise, and the neighbors don’t like that,” he said.
Leonard, who was adding a railing to the stairs to the front door Saturday, said Habitat hopes to finish the home by July 1 so the family can move in shortly thereafter.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Habitat is taking applications for next year’s home, and the deadline to apply is just a couple of weeks away on May 31. The application can be downloaded at fairfieldhabitat.org, and questions can be directed to Fairfield Habitat ReStore at 641-209-9450.
Habitat homeowners must be able to afford a mortgage by paying off a zero-percent interest loan. Applicants must show that their current housing is inadequate, and that each adult in the household is willing to contribute 200 hours of “sweat equity” in lieu of a down payment.
“Greater Fairfield Area Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through constructing and preserving homes, and by providing training and access to resources, we wish to help homeowners improve their living conditions,” stated a news release from the organization. “At Habitat for Humanity, we build because we believe that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. When homeowners help build or improve a place they can call home, they are also helping to build a better community.”
The news release states that Habitat is financially stable thanks to proceeds from the Fairfield ReStore, monthly mortgage payments from homeowners, and donations from “wonderful and charitable” individuals and businesses. This year, the group hopes to revitalize its “Brush with Kindness” program, which helps local homeowners with smaller projects like ramps, painting, landscaping, windows and doors. The homeowner covers the cost of the materials or takes out a no-interest loan through Habitat, and the group’s volunteers provide the labor free of charge.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
