GREENFIELD — Esther Roberts proudly wore her paint-stained jeans as she accepted the keys to her home.
Roberts, the third recipient of a Habitat for Humanity house in Hancock County, completed some 300 hours of “sweat equity,” working on her own home and others being built through the Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity. She also participated in the nonprofit’s home-ownership education program and financial counseling, which Habitat leaders say provide the tools Habitat homeowners need to be successful.
On Thursday, she saw the fruits of her effort as she stood outside of her completed home and accepted gifts and well-wishes from neighbors, volunteers and family, as well as Habitat officials. The onsite construction of the home, located off Tague Street, took about 22 days; walls were built off-site in advance. Wall-raising took place in late June and construction finished up shortly before the dedication on Thursday.
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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.
Ted Mosey, Greater Indy Habitat director of development, said he met Roberts, a single mother of four, during an informational meeting and became inspired by how important this journey was for her.
It started in 2016, when she and her husband divorced, Roberts recalled. She had been a stay-at-home mom up until that point, she said.
“I was completely penniless; I had nothing to my name,” she said. “I called my mom and dad and said, ‘You have to come and get me.’”
Roberts and her four kids lived with her parents, Ted and Jean Slaughter, in Wilkinson for more than a year while Roberts applied and learned through the Habitat home-ownership program.
Ted Slaughter said it was good for her to have that goal of completing the program.
“I’m sure it wasn’t easy moving back in with Mom and Dad,” he 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.
Roberts now works at Covance, which is one of the companies, churches and other groups that provided volunteers to help build the house. Mosey said Habitat’s success in Hancock County is due to the enthusiasm of such groups, which often make financial contributions to the construction of the house in addition to sending volunteers to paint, sand and hang drywall.
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.
Roberts received several gifts from Habitat officials and others in the community. The local Kroger store stocked the pantry of her new home and provided a gift card for future shopping trips. She also received a Bible and several items, including bubbles and sidewalk chalk, to help make moving in more fun for her kids.
Roberts thanked everyone who volunteered on the construction of her home. She said her kids were excited to move in over the weekend.
Though she’s almost completed all the requirements for her Habitat program, she said finishing up won’t be the end of her involvement with the organization.
“I’ve enjoyed working so much with Habitat that I probably will continue to volunteer,” she said.
