GREENFIELD — Esther Roberts’ kids are already dreaming about what color their rooms will be.
Roberts, who currently lives in Wilkinson, has spent the last few months learning about budgeting and other skills in preparation to become a homeowner. She’s been selected as the recipient of a Habitat for Humanity house in Hancock County, officials said Friday at a kickoff meeting seeking volunteers to help build the home.
Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, 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. The on-site build takes about 22 days, said Ted Mosey, director of development. Walls are built off site in advance; raising the walls is slated to begin in late June, with construction continuing throughout the summer and the home dedication tentatively slated for Sept. 21.
Roberts’ family has struggled since 2016, when her divorce led to moving into her parents’ home in Wilkinson along with her four children, she wrote in a news release. She had formerly been a stay-at-home mom but now works at Covance in Greenfield, she said.
She was encouraged by a friend to apply to become a Habitat homeowner, she said. She’s never owned a home, which she considers an important life step, especially as a parent, she said.
She looks forward to the stability of having a place to call their own, somewhere she and her children will know truly belongs to them, Roberts said.
“This has been life-changing,” she said. “You don’t typically have people come into your life just to bless you with no ulterior motives. They just want to see you succeed.”
Roberts’ home is the third house to be built by Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity in Hancock County.
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.
Greater Indy Habitat boasts two other ReStore locations. The three locations generated some $1.5 million in revenue in 2016, which funded recruitment efforts, no-interest affordable mortgages and home ownership education for Habitat clients.
Hancock County’s first Habitat homeowner, Trish Botta, attended the kickoff event, where she said she’s enjoying watching Roberts go through the familiar feelings of excitement and joy as her move-in date approaches.
“I know the feeling of counting down the days,” she said. “It’s the light at the end of the tunnel once you get started in this program.”
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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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