GREENFIELD — When Ted Mosey began looking for Habitat for Humanity volunteers in Hancock County, he wasn’t sure what the response would be.
By the time the first Habitat house was completed in July 2016, the community had eclipsed his expectations, showing up enthusiastically and in large numbers, he said. All of the volunteer time slots and then some were filled last year. Now, the Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity is looking to county residents again to build another home for a neighbor in need.
Habitat will begin construction in September and, barring weather-related delays, hand the keys to a resident in November, said Mosey, the organization’s director of development.
Construction for the second house was moved to later in the year because high temperatures taxed the contractors and volunteers who built the first Hancock County Habitat house, which was completed in July 2016, Mosey said.
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The first house, built for recipient Trish Botta, was built in about three months with 21 volunteer work days supported by local businesses, churches and service groups that gave their time and talent, officials said. The monthly payments Botta makes on the four-bedroom home — valued at $75,000 — will fund future Habitat endeavors in the region, officials said.
Steve Long, Hancock Regional Hospital CEO, said the hospital will again send a crew of workers to help build the second house. He said Hancock Health employees often volunteer their time, traveling to locales as far as India to donate their efforts.
“They understand that love is what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s a great thing to go out and get sweaty for a good cause.”
The second house will be built on a lot in the same neighborhood as Botta’s near downtown Greenfield, Mosey said.
Habitat, a Christian organization that partners with communities to provide housing for people in need, relies on donations of both cash and materials, as well as volunteers for its building and renovation projects, said Abri Hochstetler, Greater Indy Habitat marketing and communications manager.
Habitat operations expanded to include Hancock County in 2014, when Habitat opened its Hancock County ReStore, a home improvement thrift store that sells donated new and gently used merchandise at a discount to the public. Proceeds benefit Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity.
“The ReStore is a big component of this build, because it helps fund Habitat’s mission,” Hochstetler said.
Greater Indy Habitat boasts two other ReStore locations: one in Indianapolis and one in Avon. The three locations generated some $1.7 million in revenue in 2016, which funded recruitment efforts, no-interest affordable mortgages and home ownership education for Habitat clients, Hochstetler said.
Once the Greenfield ReStore was established, Habitat leaders began talking about bringing the core of their mission — building homes in local communities — to Greenfield. With one successful build on the books and another on the calendar, organization leaders are already eyeing the future of local efforts.
Habitat officials are interested in building another house in Hancock County in 2018, Mosey said.
“Habitat for Humanity is just neighbor helping neighbor,” he said. “Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. It’s daunting, but it happens one house at a time.”
To volunteer for Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, contact 317-921-2122 or [email protected], or visit indyhabitat.org.
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Home ownership Information Session
When: 8 a.m. Saturday, June 17
Where: Greenfield Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1141 W. U.S. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140
Hancock County residents are invited to attend the free information session about the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis home ownership program, through which the organization provides a no-interest mortgage to its homeowners.
Those who are interested may download an application at indyhabitat.org/keys.
For more information or to RSVP, call 317-777-6080.
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There are three main requirements to become a Habitat for Humanity homeowner:
Applicants must demonstrate a financial need for housing and also be unable to apply for a traditional mortgage.
They must be willing to put in 300 hours of “sweat equity,” which includes volunteering to help build other Habitat homes and take classes on money management and home ownership.
They must also submit to a debt-to-income ratio analysis to determine their eligibility for the program.
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To volunteer for Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, contact 317-921-2122 or [email protected], or visit indyhabitat.org.
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