fairn.png
Sunday June 4th, 2023 3:28AM

Habitat for Humanity dedicates two homes in south Hall Wednesday

By Joy Holmes Multimedia Journalist

Habitat for Humanity handed-over house keys Wednesday to two families at a dedication ceremony at Copper Glen subdivision in southeastern Hall County. 

“We’re really grateful and ready to move in,” new Homeowner Miracle Adkins said at the ceremony Wednesday alongside her young daughter and the Mitchell family, who were selected to move into the home across the street.

"I'm just very thankful and I thank God for putting the [Habitat for Humanity] application in my dad's hands, gave it to me and the rest is history," Kreneeshia Mitchell said.

Habitat for Humanity of Hall is a non-profit organization that brings people together to build homes, communities and hope, according to its website.

The organization thrives to help hard-working, low-income families purchase a home through self-sufficient building, Executive Director Lila Weaver said.

“[Homeowners] go into a pool that meet the criteria and were selected [by a Habitat committee] with the most need,” Weaver said. “Basically, it’s either their living conditions, the situation where they are currently housed and financial situation because they have to go through a mortgage process.”

Habitat for Humanity homes are not given away but are sold to families who can finance the property. The organization is an in-house mortgage lender and applies zero-percent interest to home loans, which helps make the homes affordable, Weaver said.

The organization could not fulfill its promise to provide affordable housing without low labor costs.  Homeowners must agree to 260 sweat equity hours, while adult children are expected to contribute 100 hours to the project. Those same families must also agree to put in volunteer hours at the future homes of others, Weaver said.

Habitat homes are not solely built with Habitat homeowners. The non-profit relies on regular volunteers and donors to help fulfill its mission, according to longtime volunteer Tom Reiter who spoke at the dedication ceremony Wednesday.

“In that 10 months and two days [it took to build both homes], there have been 348 individual volunteers working these houses for a total of 4,413 hours,” Reiter said. “If we had to hire day laborers at $15 an hour to do what those volunteers did, it would cost us $66,200 and it would no longer be an affordable house.”

The organization is dependent on its volunteers, whether they can donate monetary funds or manhours.

Conner Proffitt, a 10th-grade student at Gainesville High School, spent some of his spring break days on-site with Habitat for Humanity. He laid straw, pressure washed, installed appliances and cleaned and prepared homes for move-in day, he said.

“Knowing what I am doing for these two families and that they may spend the rest of their lives here and make good memories here, giving them this opportunity makes me feel pretty good about myself and makes me feel like I am giving back,” Proffitt said.

Habitat for Humanity is three homes away from filling its 21-lot Hall County neighborhood. The organization will break ground on the remaining lots Saturday, April 7.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, visit its website.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Videos
  • Associated Tags: Habitat for Humanity, Copper Glen, Habitat for Humanity of Hall
© Copyright 2023 AccessWDUN.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
Habitat for Humanity dedicates two homes in south Hall Wednesday
Habitat for Humanity handed-over house keys Wednesday to two families at a dedication ceremony at Copper Glen subdivision in southeastern Hall County.
4:30PM ( 24 minutes ago )
Hall County’s REACT program provides work opportunities for inmates
The Hall County Correctional Institute’s Re-entry Accountability Court Transition program allows offenders returning to the Northeastern Judicial Circuit a second chance at education, substance abuse treatment and employment prior to their release on parole or probation.
3:51PM ( 1 hour ago )
Sawnee Electric Foundation program awards $5000 scholarships to 20 students
The Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation recently awarded 20 local high school seniors each with a $5,000 scholarship in support of education in the areas served by Sawnee EMC.
3:45PM ( 1 hour ago )
Local/State News
Norton Agency: new bungalow concept ‘is just enough space’
The Norton Agency built two 512-square-foot concept homes in the Gainesville, Hall County area to help provide attainable housing to people in the community.
8:00AM ( 6 days ago )
Gainesville celebrates 50th anniversary of Tommy Aaron's Masters Tournament win
Tommy Aaron was worried about his swing after his warmup before the opening round of the 1973 Masters Tournament.
7:05AM ( 1 week ago )
25 years later: Remembering the Hall, White County tornado of 1998
On the morning of March 20, 1998, an F3 tornado ripped through Hall and White Counties, leaving destruction and tragedy in its wake.
3:00PM ( 2 weeks ago )
Videos
Habitat Hall County hosts Dedication Parade of Cars to celebrate first homeowners since pandemic
The Buffingtons have faced their fair share of struggles in their journey to becoming homeowners. But today was a day for celebration as staff with Habitat for Humanity of Hall County hosted their first Home Dedication Parade of Cars for the family’s move-in day.
3:43PM ( 2 years ago )
Habitat for Humanity ReStore to open next month
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Hall County will reopen next month following an extended closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
4:31PM ( 2 years ago )
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter scheduled to build homes in Nashville
Despite a recent hip surgery, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn are planning to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity for the 36th consecutive year.
11:59AM ( 3 years ago )
Cisco volunteers help build Habitat home in Forsyth County
Cisco Systems employees from North and South America have traveled to Georgia to help build homes with two families as part of a new national partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
By AccessWDUN Staff
9:00PM ( 4 years ago )
Flowery Branch coworkers build Habitat home in parking lot
The employees of Kings Hawaiian in Flowery Branch constructed the home in the parking lot of their company before giving the keys to a coworker.
2:00PM ( 4 years ago )