From left are John and Londa Lewis, Habitat newly approved Partner Family; Jane Crim, Family Selection Committee member; and Andrea Wagner, Habitat newly approved Partner Family. (Photo provided)
The Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County, upon recommendation of the Family Selection committee, recently approved John and Londa Lewis; Andrea Wagner and her son; and Jacob and Nichole Roberson and their children as Partner Families.
Habitat has three main criteria that applicants must meet to become a Partner Family: 1) there must be a need, 2) there must be an ability to repay, and (3) the family must be willing to partner with Habitat by completing sweat equity hours and other requirements. Each of these families meet the criteria set forth by the board.More than 20 years ago John and Londa Lewis inherited a house that was already close to 100 years old. The house, with barely a shred of insulation, is a utility nightmare for the Lewis, electric and gas payments averaged more than $450 a month this winter.
Once the existing house has been demolished and the new Habitat built home constructed the Lewis’ are projected to have a total monthly housing expense less than that average utility bill. This will include the principal payment on the mortgage, escrow for property taxes and insurance and their future utilities. John works for a packaging company while Londa is the Lab Tech at the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County. Habitat is working on the logistics of temporarily moving the Lewis’ while demolition and construction take place.
Andrea Wagner and her son have been shuffling between apartments in the same complex for more than two years. Paying more than 30% of income toward their housing cost, a figure deemed by Habitat as unsustainable, they do not have the opportunity to get ahead, nor earn the equity that comes with a stable owned home. Andrea works within the Warsaw Community School system and is looking forward to getting started on her sweat equity. She and her son are prime candidates for the Habitat development on East Market Street across from Fribley Field starting later this year.
Jacob and Nichole Roberson and their six children, one of whom is shared custody, have been living with parents/grandparents for more than two years. This situation is an automatic qualifier when it comes to need within Habitat criteria. Based on the age and gender of the children the Roberson home will be a five bedroom build, the largest Habitat has ever undertaken in Kosciusko County. Jacob has been an employee at Dalton Corp for more than 8 years and is an active leader in scouting, while Nichole is an active student, mom and involved in scouting as well.
The Roberson’s are the Partner Family for the proposed Body of Christ Build, Habitat’s goal to bring at least 15 churches from the county together to build the home in the North Webster area. Several churches are involved through the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association; more churches are welcome to participate.
At present, Habitat does not have property available to build on in North Webster and is looking for an advocate or two that might have a prospective property. Please call 574-269-4104 with any leads.
Habitat has changed its philosophy on approving Partner Families, applications are accepted on a continuous basis and all applications that meet Habitat criteria will be approved.
“We have shifted our selection process to an approval process because we have set criteria and if an application meets those criteria then it should be approved. We do not select families; we approve families based on established criteria. If a queue of several approved Partner Families develops that will show the community the amount of need that is truly present for affordable housing and that Habitat is making its best effort to eradicate the problem one family and house at a time, or perhaps multiple houses and families at a time,” says Christon Clark, executive director.
Habitat is working on house sponsorships for these homes as well as future homes. For more information on being a house sponsor, donor or volunteer go to www.kosciuskohabitat.com or call 574-269-4104.