Construction of the first of four Habitat for Humanity houses being built in Baldwin County began Jan. 17 at 2254 Leo Court. The houses are being funded by a $600,000 grant provided by The Community Home Investment Program.
According to Executive Director of Macon Area Habitat for Humanity Ivey Hall, who also oversees Habitat for Humanity Milledgeville- Baldwin County, the other three homes to be built will be located on Ross Avenue and Hillcrest Street.
“The first home is on Leo Court across the street from the home last completed by Habitat for Humanity. We wanted to start off building where they left off and completed a groundbreaking in 2019,” said Hall. “The two locations on Ross Avenue came from the land bank and the Hillcrest Street property has been owned by Habitat for a while.”
Locations are determined by where Habitat has worked before and what areas in a county are being redeveloped and revitalized.
“It is a great opportunity to take property that is being underused or not being used and turn it back into a home ownership opportunity for a family,” said Hill. “It also puts the property back on the tax rolls if it was tax delinquent.”
Families are selected based on an application process. Habitat for Humanity looks for a need for housing, low-income families, an ability to pay-back, and the ability to partner.
“All of our families are below-income families earning between 25-80% of that area’s median income.
Those guidelines are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development each year,” said Hall. “Then, we look for the ability to pay. Many people believe that Habitat gives away a house, but our homeowners are purchasing a house.”
Families purchase the home at a 0% interest rate with a 20-year mortgage set at not more than 30% of their income.
“It’s an affordable mortgage but still a mortgage.
All applicants must have a form of stable income to allow them to be successful,” said Hall.
The final component of owning a home includes partnering with the organization to attend classes, help with the construction of new homes, and more.
According to Hall, all homeowners are required to contribute at least 300 hours of “sweat-equity.”
“They help on their house, on future houses, and complete first-time homebuyer and home maintenance courses and financial care counseling,” said Hall. “We are setting everyone up to be successful homeowners.”
In the first home on Leo Court, the Coffee family will be moving in. The family consists of a mother and her two daughters. According to Hall, the mother has worked in education in Baldwin County for many years and will be a firsttime home buyer.
“She said being a firsttime home buyer was one of her dreams,” said Hall.
The first home is anticipated to be complete by summer, however, the pause placed on federal funding Jan. 29 may affect completion and the construction of the other three homes.
“The pause on federal funding will impact our timeline on all future projects. At this time we do not know if the federal grant we received will be put on hold or not,” said Ivey. “Despite this, we plan to continue construction on Leo Court in small parts.
Most of the federal funds we work with are done on a reimbursement basis, so we actually advance the expenses and are reimbursed in periods throughout the project.
So, as of now, we are moving forward with the work that we have scheduled.”
Hall stated they are waiting on further guidance from the Department of Community Affairs, which facilitates the Community Home Investment Grant on how to proceed.