Habitat for Humanity

Jan 21 2012 -  Rotarians & friends turned out to help build a Habitat For Humanity house.  Thirteen Rotarians and other volunteers put on 2 coats of paint inside and out, and installed doors and kitchen cabinets this past Saturday in Mesa.  Kyrene Corridor Rotary club volunteers were joined by a large group of volunteers from the Tempe East Club.  This house will be purchased by a single mom who has one or two children.  She has worked on this and other houses for 400 hours!, completed courses in financial management and home maintenance, and will become responsible for mortgages equal to the appraised value of the house.  Homeowners are selected to be H4H home buyers based on being first time house buyers, steady (but low wage) employment, lack of debt, and poor current housing conditions.  The term of the zero interest mortgage is structured according to the home-buyer's ability to make monthly payments.  And several years of regular on-time payments will earn a reduction in the total amount due.  All construction and construction leadership except the concrete, plumbing, electrical and air conditioning is performed by volunteers.  House sponsors typically raise $85,000 of money and in-kind donations to pay for all above-ground materials.  The plumbing, electrical and air conditioning for this house were in-kind donations by licensed contractors.  Some of the Kyrene Corridor Rotarians contributed AZ Tax Credit ("Aid to the working poor") money to help fund this house.  Local Habitat organization volunteer opportunities include family selection, family mentoring, construction leadership and construction.  This is the 5th house that Kyrene Corridor Rotarians have helped build!