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In the Habit
Habitat for Humanity Clark & Floyd Indiana seeks service and land
BY MANDY WOLF DETWILER
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL
IS A GLOBAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
FOUNDED IN 1976. THOUGH ITS SPOTLIGHTED
PROJECTS INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CONJUNCTION
WITH POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS AND
DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS, IT ALSO PROVIDES
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO
HELP THOSE HOMEOWNERS AFFORD, CARE
FOR AND STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
14
EXTOL • JUNE/JULY 2017
Jerry Leonard, executive director for Habitat
for Humanity Clark & Floyd Indiana, says the
organization has been serving this area for more
than 25 years. He joined as executive director about
a year and a half ago. “I wanted to be a part of the
organization just because of what the impact has
been and the services we provide,” Leonard says.
“It’s not just building homes. It’s more than that.
It’s building the hope (and) building self-reliance.
Building is just the activity that we do there.”
Since its founding, Habitat for Humanity Clark
& Floyd Indiana has constructed nearly 50 homes
for local homeowners.
Once a homeowner is accepted and completes
orientation, Leonard says the goal is to have the
person in a house ¬ – or starting a home – within
12 months. An existing home may be rehabbed or
built from the ground up.
“We start figuring out how they’re going to put
in their sweat equity,” Leonard says. “They’re going
to have to put in 450 hours of sweat equity.”
Also, education classes are completed, including
obtaining financing and budgeting.
“We’re teaching them financial stability along
with housing stability,” Leonard explains.
Habitat for Humanity applicants typically
follow the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) guidelines. “Most of
homeowners are going to fall somewhere between
the 30 percent and 60 percent of the average median