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 – May 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 #20 for 2020-2021 Partner Family is the NaCole Wakefield Family.
The ground was broken on Sunday, September 20, for the 20th Habitat House set to be built in Arkansas City. The new home will be located at 119 South C Street. NaCole Wakefield and her family of three girls will be the residents of the home. She and her children were on hand for the ground breaking, each managing a shovel to share in the exciting event.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry whose vision is to provide a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity International was established in 1976, and the Habitat for Humanity Arkansas City affiliate began building homes in 2000. The funds for constructing the homes are provided through donations and fundraisers. Lead Sponsorship Donor, The Robert Warrender Trust, which is administered by Trustee, Wayne Hamilton, is once again providing a $10,000 lead donation for this year's project. This is the fifth home that Robert Warrender Trust has been the Lead Sponsorship Donor, having provided funding for a total of nine homes thus far in Arkansas City. Volunteer manpower and donated services by trade professionals is used to build the homes.
Each house is sold to the chosen family for approximately two thirds of its market value and the recipient is also required to provide 300 hours of sweat equity during construction. No closing costs or interest are charged on the mortgage. Families are chosen through an application and review process based on need and financial ability to repay the mortgage.
NaCole, with children, Sophie, age 11, Layla, 9, and Bricker, 7 are very much looking forward to the construction of their new residence, which will include four bedrooms and two baths. NaCole, a native Ark Citian, is the Attendance Secretary at the Arkansas City High School. In light of the current Covid 19 situation, she agreed that school life has very much changed since she started the job three years ago.
She and the girls as well as some family members plan to provide the work hours (sweat equity) required with the purchase of the home. Ms. Wakefield located the lot that this house is being constructed on which was owned by Twin Rivers Developmental Supports. Habitat contacted Lara McGrew, CEO of Twin Rivers regarding a possible donation of the site for a habitat home. The Twin Rivers board was very supportive of assisting Habitat in this way and agreed to donate the lot for NaCole's new habitat home. The donation is very much appreciated by Habitat for Humanity of Arkansas City and also the Wakefield family.
Volunteers will be on hand soon to begin construction, with completion anticipated before spring.
To get a better understanding of what Habitat for
Humanity does, please watch these videos.
The Leyva Family 2016-2017 Recipients
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 $500, 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.
