By Timothy Bradfield
Correspondent
LAFAYETTE, Ga. — It’s been nearly two years since Dean and Deborah Stier were handed the keys to their Habitat for Humanity house.
And their gratitude for the new home hasn’t faded with time. Today, Dean Stier says they’re “blessed to have something like this.”
Habitat for Humanity of Walker County has helped him and his wife in more ways than one, Stier said, because they’re not only living in a safer neighborhood, they’re buying a house for $265 a month.
“When I found out that I’d be able to pay $100 less (than rent) in buying the house, I jumped at it,” he said.
The pair live just a few hundred feet from the sixth home being built by Walker Habitat. But construction is idle until the organization selects the next homeowner from its list of applicants.
The owner is required to help complete the project by doing things such as painting and yard work. Habitat calls it “sweat equity,” and the homeowner must contribute 300 hours of work.
“It gives them pride in their own home,” Walker Habitat Vice President Evelle Dana said. “They feel the ownership instead of, ‘Here are the keys. Here’s your house. Walk in.'”
Applications will be accepted through the end of October, Habitat officials said.
They estimate the final cost of the three-bedroom, two-bath home will be $50,000 to $60,000, not including the land, which was donated.
Walker Habitat officials said they have no lack of donated property. In fact, Habitat has enough land to accommodate as many as seven houses, said the group’s president, Tom Harrison.
But the organization needs donations of money and building supplies and volunteers to help with construction, he said.
“That’s how Habitat survives … on the good will of the population,” Harrison said. “We count on that.”
Walker County Habitat for Humanity officials said the organization plans to build one or two homes next year, even though they’d like to do more.
“I think there’s a tremendous need, especially in the economic times we have now,” Dana said. “There’s more of a need for this than any time.”
Timothy Bradfield covers Walker County. Contact him at timothyb2010@gmail.com.
GET INVOLVED
To apply for Habitat ownership or volunteer, call 706-638-0035. Applications also are available at the public libraries in LaFayette, Chickamauga and Rossville.