Putnam County Habitat for Humanity officials and guests gathered on Nov. 1, on Eatonton’s Whippowill Drive to hand over the keys to its latest new home build this year.
The nonprofit organization focuses on providing affordable housing for families to build economic stability and self-reliance.
“We are pleased to be able to hand over the keys to another deserving family this year,” Putnam County Habitat for Humanity Board President Bucky Kahl said. “Gloria and Alfredo have been wonderful to work with and exhibit all of the qualities we look for in partner families. Their home would not be possible without the support of our many community partners, plus a significant donation to the affiliate by an anonymous individual.”
Habitat for Humanity organizes the sustainable construction model of affordable homes with volunteer service and donated materials and professional services then sells the homes to selected families with no interest.
Families are selected based on their level of need, their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity volunteers, and their ability to pay an affordable mortgage. Participating families must have proven ability to manage finances and contribute up to 300 hours of volunteer hours as part of Habitat’s sweat equity model of providing a hand-up, not a hand-out.
“When families partner with Habitat for Humanity, they qualify for a mortgage as they would in a normal real estate transaction, but the monetary difference between the mortgage amount and the actual cost of the home is covered by our affiliate," Putnam Habitat board member Doug Denholm said. "With construction costs increasing, that difference has increased significantly, making donations of both goods, services, and dollars even more important."
“Our ability to carry out our mission of building safe and affordable homes for those who could not otherwise afford them is dependent upon revenue from our ReStore facility (1027 Lake Oconee Pkwy., Eatonton), community partnerships, and from donations,” Denholm continued. “The very generous gift from our local donor has provided us the opportunity to fulfill the homeownership dreams of five Putnam County residents. We are eager and optimistic about the future of the organization and the impact we can have in the community.”