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income for our area,” Leonard says. “It fluctuates
by family size of what that could be, but it usually
falls somewhere between as low as $14,000 for
one and the maximum is around $28,000 per year
based on HUD.”
Critical to Habitat for Humanity are the hundreds
of volunteers who have offered time, money and
expertise throughout the years. Leonard says many
of the volunteers come from local organizations,
networking or simply individuals with extra time
and skills to give. Leonard says a minimum of
three to four people are needed in order to build.
“We’re available to build Tuesday through
Saturday, but Saturdays are the most popular,” he
says. “We have a lot of church groups as well. We
have people who have volunteered as part of a
group and have had wonderful experiences and
come back with their families.”
If they can’t find, say, an electrician to volunteer
his time and licensing, that cost has to be paid to
the contractor. “So far we’ve been blessed,” Leonard
says. “If we need help, our vendors help up out.”
Gail Bryant’s house was the fourth home
completed. She started construction in the early
1990s and recently made her last payment of a
20-year loan. Bryant learned about Habitat for
Humanity from a co-worker who was working
toward her own Habitat home in Louisville.
“I got in there and got all gung-ho,” Bryant laughs.
“You could have called me ‘Tool Man Taylor’ back
then. … It was a great learning experience. It was
kind of exciting because I sat there and I could see
where my electrical was going in. I see this. I see
that. Back then, the mind wasn’t a terrible thing to
waste. I remembered a lot of things. But the time I
got finished, I thought ‘Well, I could build my own
house!’ I learned things I didn’t think I’d ever know.”
Leonard says teaching self-sufficiency to
homeowners like Bryant is a fundamental part of
the Habitat building process. “You don’t necessary
expect them to pay out money,” he says. “Sometimes
you can fix things on your own. We’re trying to
teach you how to be a good homeowner.”
Over the years, Bryant has contacted Habitat
foremen and asked for tips on how to fix things on
her own. “That’s another money saver,” she says.
“Everybody was always great. If they didn’t know
the answer, they’d find it for me.”
Adds Leonard: “As we say, once you’re in the
Habitat family, you’re always family no matter what.”
Habitat for Humanity Clark and Floyd Indiana
is in need of volunteers, but also funding and
property in Floyd and Clark counties.
“Donations are a huge piece of it,” Leonard
says. We have no federal, local or state funding.
Everything we get is through the community itself.”
To volunteer, call 812.948.1235 or visit
newalbanyhfh.org. (The organization will soon move
to a newly redesigned Web site at habitatcfi.org.)
NEW ALBANY, INDIANA
Paving | Seal Coating | Striping | Site Work
Concrete | Water Piping | Sanitary/Storm
www.apc-construct.com
Family focused.
Community focused.
Partnership focused.
110 W Main, 2nd Floor | Louisville KY, 40202
(502) 379-6130 | www.neaceventures.com
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