Arkansas City
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian ministry
whose mission is to partner with qualified families in need and provide
them the opportunity for safe, decent, affordable housing.
Applications
will be accepted from February 1st – April 15th. The
partner family will be selected by the first of June,
The house will begin building in September and be
finished by the end of February.
House #22 (above). The Billiter Family receive their new home from the Habitat Board members.
Blessings Abound in 2023!
The Billiter family began an exciting new chapter of their life in their new home April 2, 2023. The family, extended family and members of the Habitat for Humanity board gathered on Sunday afternoon April 2nd for a house blessing to officially welcome Michelle Billiter and her two children into their new habitat home.
The afternoon began with a welcome by the local Habitat organization president, Curt Freeland. Freeland congratulated the family, welcomed guests, and offered best wishes to the family for the hope and happiness in their new home. Attendees were reminded of the beginning of Habitat for Humanity and the mission of the founders to partner with qualified families in need, to provide families safe affordable housing. Freeland thanked all who donated to Habitat or participated in the construction of the home.
Following his opening remarks, Freeland invited the new homeowner, Michelle Billiter's Pastor Dave Bannister and his wife Laura from Evangel Bible Fellowship ask for a blessing on the home. Pastor Eugene McCarty, Pastor of the Vinelife Church and a longtime member of the Arkansas City Habitat board, also offered a prayer of thanks for God's generous provision and presented the family with an inscribed Bible on behalf of the Habitat for Humanity Board.
Michelle said, "I am very excited for a new start, a hopefully new and better chapter in our lives. I am happy that my kids have a great yard to play in." Michelle and her children, Dawson 13 and Lillyanna 11, were surrounded by her parents, cousins, other family and friends as she received the house blessing. The family enjoyed showing their bedrooms to their friends and family and discussing their exciting plans for the future in their new home.
The home is the 22nd home completed by Habitat for Humanity of Arkansas City. The workforce on the construction of the home is done by many volunteers as well as trade professionals who donate their time installing and constructing the areas of the project that require specialized licensure or skills. In addition, the family that is chosen to purchase a Habitat home is required to supply 300 hours of "sweat equity" in the building of the house. The work on the house was ongoing on for 6 months with about 1,200 hours of volunteer labor and 125 days on site to complete home. There were 7 volunteers that regularly worked on the house in addition to the trade professionals and family.
Applications are currently being accepted through April 15th for the 23rd habitat home. To apply go to the Habitat for Humanity for Arkansas City web page (arkcityhabitat.org) and click on the "Application for Housing" tab.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry whose vision is to provide a world where everyone has a safe, adequate and affordable place to live. Habitat for Humanity International was established in 1976, and the Habitat for Humanity Arkansas City affiliate began building homes in 2000 and has built one new habitat home each year since then. The funds for constructing the homes are provided through mortgage payments, donations and fundraisers.
Habitat for Humanity of Arkansas City held their first fundraiser since Covid. 150 people enjoyed the Mardi Gras themed evening. The ACHS Jazz Band, led by Hans Judd and Chris VanGilder, played New Orleans tunes.
Click below - New Video by Cowley County Junior College class Introduction to Public Relations interviewed and produced the following video for the 2023 Ark City Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, "Let the Good Times Roll." The featured Habitat partner families have been in their homes from one to twelve years.
WHAT WE DO
Habitat homes are constructed primarily by volunteers, using
both donated and purchased building materials. It takes
approximately six months to complete a Habitat house.
Our partner families fulfill their required 300 hours of sweat
equity by helping build their home and by assisting with Habitat
fund raisers. Some of our houses are partially sponsored by
churches, businesses, organizations, or individuals.
We sell our houses at no profit, offering our partner families a
20-year, interest-free mortgage. Monthly payments range between
$450 and $550, depending on taxes and insurance. The monthly
payments are then used to help fund the building of more houses.
We also tithe 10% of our income to Mexico Habitat for Humanity
which is normally enough to build one house in Mexico for each
house we build locally. Donations, which are tax deductible, are
always welcome.
HOME OWNERSHIP
Becoming one of our partner families is the beginning of a
long-term relationship with us. To become a partner family, the
applicant must:
Demonstrate a need for better housing
Have
enough yearly income to meet the financial responsibilities
of home ownership
Be
willing to partner with us by providing 300 hours of sweat
equity working on their Habitat house.
Once an application is completed, it is carefully reviewed by
the Family Selection Committee of the Arkansas City Habitat for
Humanity organization and a home visit is made. Qualified
applicants need to be approved by the Arkansas City Habitat for
Humanity Board of Directors.
HOW to
VOLUNTEER
While most volunteers choose to work on-site, there are several
other opportunities for volunteering in our organization. All of
the committees are made up of community volunteers including:
Family Selection Committee
Family Support Committee
Fund
Raising Committees
To
volunteer, contact us by:
phone, 441-3755
mail, P.O. Box 401
website, ArkCityHabitat.org
email cfreeland@cox.net
We will provide additional information on opportunities for you
to volunteer.
The location of our current worksite can be obtained by calling
the above number. Anyone over the age of 14 can volunteer,
though there are some limitations for volunteers between 14-18
years of age.
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