A
startling 86% of our community cannot afford the basic
necessities to live in Walton County. There is currently a
crisis for affordable housing for the local workforce, which
requires many folks to commute from other counties
where they reside. As one of the fastest growing counties in the state
and with no slowdown in sight, Walton County is fortunate to have
such an impassioned charitable community of people. There are over
90 registered nonprofi ts in Walton County that assist in making the
county more livable for everyone and helping to keep many of the
workers local. Of these nonprofi ts, Habitat for Humanity of Walton
County is known for doing more directly to provide homes in the
area.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofi t organization that helps
families build and improve places to call home. They build strength,
stability, and self-reliance through shelter. A common misbelief is
that Habitat provides handouts or free housing. On the contrary,
their benefi ciaries lend a helping hand in the building process and
they actually pay for their homes. Future Habitat homeowners are
qualifi ed based on their level of need, willingness to partner with
Habitat, and their ability to pay back a no profi t loan. Habitat’s model
of having those in need of housing work side by side with volunteers
to build simple, decent homes substantially lowers the cost as well as
facilitates pride in homeownership. Each home is built and sold to
clients using zero interest loans tied to their fi nancial circumstances.
The homeowners also pay property taxes and hazard insurance
just as any traditional home loan would require. The mortgage
payments go directly to help build more homes for deserving
families in our community. Habitat stimulates growth by revitalizing
neighborhoods; one house at a time, as well as creating jobs and a
property tax base for individuals that would have not otherwise been
able to do it on their own.
Habitat for Humanity of Walton County very proudly completed
their 50th Habitat home last June, with four currently under
construction. Habitat of Walton has also recently broken ground at
Hope Village, the very fi rst Habitat neighborhood locally that will
consist of thirteen homes. Teresa Imdieke, the executive director of
Habitat for Humanity of Walton County noted that this had been
a dream of hers for eight years. Teresa’s excitement and passion
for her job are apparent, as she has become ‘family’ with the many
homeowners that she has had the pleasure of assisting over the years.
The great challenge that she is leading is allowing many families to
establish roots and change the lives for their subsequent generation.
story by
Greg Alexander
|
photos provided by
Walton County Habitat for Humanity
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