Habitat for Humanity work to begin in Winfield

WINFIELD — After completing the 29th Habitat for Humanity home at the beginning of June with lawn work, the organization looks to direct their efforts to their 30th home build in Winfield.

A little over two years ago, Melia Liles and her two children’s lives changed drastically as she received a phone call that her family would be the recipients of the 29th Henry County Habitat for Humanity home. Now, she resides in a brand-new house which she says was “built as a total labor of love.”

As Liles now enjoys her favorite place in the world listening to birds happily chirping as she sips coffee on quiet sleepy mornings from her front porch, she excitedly shares information for upcoming builds.

Much like Liles, the next home recipient is also a single mother.

“We’re aiming for starting work on the 30th home July 15,” President of Henry County Habitat for Humanity Lisa Diener said. “Our goal is to have the home done by at least Christmas.”

Diener says in order for the start and finish date to work out, many moving pieces must align including the having the slab ready and the weather cooperate.

According to Diener, the organization will begin work for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home by setting walls. Following this, they will begin truss work.

In order to start this work, the organization is looking for skilled and unskilled volunteers to donate their time.

“Volunteers must be at least 16 years old,” Diener said. “Anyone can help really. We pair unskilled volunteers with skilled ones. Really an unskilled volunteer can help with almost anything.”

With this buddy system, Diener says many learn new skills.

“Sometimes they help set walls,” Diener said. “Maybe that means they just hold the wall, sometimes it means they do more.”

Those that donate their time throughout the project can help with other aspects of the build including shingling, siding, installing doors, windows, trim, and cabinets.

Work on the Winfield home will take place Saturday between 8 a.m.-2 p.m., weather permitting. While volunteers may just show up at the site, 410 N. Locust St., Diener says a heads-up helps ensure there is enough lunch for all the volunteers.

For those wishing to help in less physically demanding ways, Diener says they are always looking for people to donate meals or bottled water for workdays.

Henry County Habitat for Humanity will offer another way to assist with the latest build, July 22 with a Stuff the Truck event at Mt. Pleasant Christian School from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

“We partner with the Fairfield re-store where people can drop off items at the Christian school parking lot,” Diener said. “Then restore will take it back to Fairfield and then habitat will receive 30% of sales to put back into the home.”

Acceptable donations for the Stuff the Truck event include the following:

Appliances

Building materials

Bathroom cabinets

Doors

Windows

Gardening tools

Household furniture

Office furniture

Outdoor furniture

Paint and supplies

Sinks

Toilets

Tiles, carpets and rugs

They will not accept broken items, electronics, empty paint containers, fluorescent ceiling lights, mattresses, bedding, and single pane windows.

While Henry County Habitat for Humanity has not officially began their build in Winfield, they are already asking Henry County Residents to spread the word that they are accepting applications for their 31st home.

“The next two homes will be in Mt. Pleasant,” Diener stated explaining that the organization already has two lots available for the next homes in the city.

“We are offering a hand-up, not a handout,” the organization states.

“Applicants are required to meet initial criteria for consideration,” a social media post seeking applicants states. “They must currently live in poverty or substandard conditions, such as inadequate heating or plumbing, unsafe structural issues, roofing or floors beyond economical repair, overcrowding, unhealthy conditions or inoperable bathroom or kitchen.”

While the organization can offer a complete list of qualifications, Diener says applicants must have a need for safe housing and, “They have to be able to pay back a 20-year interest free mortgage.”

These mortgage payments usually range between $600-700 per month which includes property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

Those receiving homes from the organization must also meet an expectation of 300 hours of sweat equity per adult in the home.

According to Habitat for Humanity, “Home sizes are based on your family’s size and needs. Each family chooses their siding color, shingle color, wall color, kitchen cabinet color, counter tops, and flooring. A new Habitat house provides simple, decent, affordable housing.”

Diener asks those seeking more information about volunteering, donating, or applying to contact her via call or text at (319) 931-0656 or reach out to the Henry County Habitat for Humanity Facebook page.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com