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
for Habitat House #24 will be accepted from February 1 – April 15, 2025. The
partner family will be selected by the first of June 2025,
The house will begin building in September and be
finished by the end of February 2026.
The Knight family breaks ground on their new Habitat home.
NEWS RELEASE
Members of Arkansas City's Habitat for Humanity Board, as well as family and friends of the Knight and Mundy families, came together for a peaceful evening on September 18th at 902 South F Street to celebrate breaking ground on the 24th Habitat Home to be built in Arkansas City. The new home will provide a safe and affordable home for Audrey Knight and her two children - Laken, age 16, and Jaxon, age 13. Audrey and her children each used a shovel to signify work beginning on the home.
Audrey chose the home site based on the opportunity for her children to enjoy a yard as well providing a safe area for her children. The lot was donated by the Arkansas City Land Bank Program. It is expected that the site will be ready to begin construction sometime in October when volunteers will be on hand to begin construction, with completion anticipated in the Spring. The 1,350 sq ft residence will include 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a laundry room. Audrey and her family are eager to help in the building of their new home. Habitat families are required to provide 300 hours of work to help build their home.
Audrey, a native of Arkansas City and a 2004 graduate from Arkansas City High School, serves her community by working for Arkansas City and is responsible for all the beautiful flowers and plants across town, including those seen in downtown Arkansas City. When asked what having the home means to her, Audrey shared, "This will be a place to make memories as a family and raise my children in my hometown, with a place to finally call our own."
This was Audrey's first attempt to become a Habitat homeowner. Each year, families are considered for a Habitat home based on their need for better housing, as well as their ability to afford the home mortgage. If a family is not chosen, they are encouraged to apply again. The funds needed to build each Habitat home are provided through mortgage payments of current Habitat homeowners, generous donations from trade professionals, individuals, businesses, civic and charitable organizations, Habitat fundraisers, and the many hours of work by construction volunteers.
The Robert Warrender Trust will again be the lead sponsor of this year's habitat home. This is the 13th habitat home for which the Trust has provided a substantial donation.
"We are very grateful for all of the generous donors and volunteers that have made this Habitat housing ministry possible over the years since it was established in 2000. We look forward to working with Audrey and her family to build their new habitat home." said Chris Johnson, Arkansas City Habitat for Humanity Board President.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry with a vision of 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 and has built a new Habitat home nearly every year since then.
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
$500 and $600, 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.
.jpg)
