Newest Habitat House keys turned over to new owner
Dowling received the keys to her new home on Friday. Pictured above are the people present for the celebration. In the front row, from left to right: Sharon Schact, Delene Abbott, Bobbie Dowling and baby Grayson Pendergraft. Middle row: Geneva Hicks, Nicki Null and Jennifer Pendergraft. Back row: Verdayne Hicks, John Matukewicz and Jeff Allee.
December 23, 2015
Charlea Mills
The fifth Habitat for Humanity House in Cassville finally has a new owner after the original applicant selected passed away. The keys were turned over to the new owner, Bobbie Dowling, just in time for Christmas at a ceremony on Friday, December 17.
According to Habitat for Humanity of Cassville board member Sharon Schact, Dowling was selected out of approximately ten applicants at the board’s October meeting. This home was a special one for the board as it was built in memory of Louis Metz, a longtime supporter of the local group, who passed away.
“He was very active in Habitat and he was someone who was always there when we needed him for anything with Habitat. So when he passed away, we wanted to do something in his memory,” Schact said.
The house, which is located at 3rd and Mountain Streets in Cassville, is a three-bedroom, one and a half bath partial berm home, which the group hoped would help to make it more energy efficient for the new owner. Much of the materials for the home are donated, including an appliance from Whirlpool. Some professional services and materials are purchased by the local Habitat for Humanity, but the remaining labor and materials are donated.
To qualify for a Habitat home, applicants must be Barry County residents currently living in substandard housing conditions, have steady income and must participate in education classes, as well as investing sweat equity hours to build the home. Since this home was previously completed, Dowling will help with the next Habitat home instead. She will also have family or friends complete 150 hours.
Schact said, “We really try to get the right home for the right person, and I think she is perfect for the home. She is really a sweet girl, and we’re happy.”
While Habitat homes are built for minimal cost, applicants still must purchase the homes. The loans are no-interest, and they only pay what was spent on the home, so there is no profit. The minimal payments make the program beneficial in helping people with a hand-up, not a hand-out.
The Habitat for Humanity of Cassville is a Christian-based organization that uses community partnership to help local people. To make a donation, contact the ReStore at 301 Main Street in Cassville.
Charlea Mills
The fifth Habitat for Humanity House in Cassville finally has a new owner after the original applicant selected passed away. The keys were turned over to the new owner, Bobbie Dowling, just in time for Christmas at a ceremony on Friday, December 17.
According to Habitat for Humanity of Cassville board member Sharon Schact, Dowling was selected out of approximately ten applicants at the board’s October meeting. This home was a special one for the board as it was built in memory of Louis Metz, a longtime supporter of the local group, who passed away.
“He was very active in Habitat and he was someone who was always there when we needed him for anything with Habitat. So when he passed away, we wanted to do something in his memory,” Schact said.
The house, which is located at 3rd and Mountain Streets in Cassville, is a three-bedroom, one and a half bath partial berm home, which the group hoped would help to make it more energy efficient for the new owner. Much of the materials for the home are donated, including an appliance from Whirlpool. Some professional services and materials are purchased by the local Habitat for Humanity, but the remaining labor and materials are donated.
To qualify for a Habitat home, applicants must be Barry County residents currently living in substandard housing conditions, have steady income and must participate in education classes, as well as investing sweat equity hours to build the home. Since this home was previously completed, Dowling will help with the next Habitat home instead. She will also have family or friends complete 150 hours.
Schact said, “We really try to get the right home for the right person, and I think she is perfect for the home. She is really a sweet girl, and we’re happy.”
While Habitat homes are built for minimal cost, applicants still must purchase the homes. The loans are no-interest, and they only pay what was spent on the home, so there is no profit. The minimal payments make the program beneficial in helping people with a hand-up, not a hand-out.
The Habitat for Humanity of Cassville is a Christian-based organization that uses community partnership to help local people. To make a donation, contact the ReStore at 301 Main Street in Cassville.