Sixty homes for 240 people in 30 years.
Those numbers aren’t too shabby. But Shawnda Cook, executive director of Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity, hopes to add to them.
“But, this is a huge milestone for us,” said Cook, who has been with the nonprofit for 10 years.
“One girl recently showed me her closet,” Cook said. “She had never had a closet before. We tend to take these things for granted.”
Mon Valley Habitat is the local branch of Americus, Ga.-based Habitat for Humanity, the international, Christian-based nonprofit that has helped 29 million people around the world construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since its founding in 1976. Habitat is also the largest not-for-profit builder in the world.
The need for affordable housing in north-central West Virginia is critical. Cook said when she first started at Mon Valley Habitat, one house was usually constructed every 18 to 24 months. Now, the nonprofit completes four to five houses a year.
The nonprofit changed its name in early 2019 when it officially expanded its service area to Marion and Preston counties, which also had a need for affordable housing. It recently completed a house in Fairmont and has acquired property in Kingwood for homes, Cook said.
“Our services are in demand and with more towns, families and individuals in need in our expanded service area, we always welcome support from our community,” said Delores John, Mon Valley’s chairman of the board.
Going through the process
To qualify for a Habitat home, a person must show a need for safe, affordable housing. Plus, the applicant must be willing to perform sweat equity — 250 hours — for the nonprofit. This could include either helping build the home, helping someone else build a home, or volunteering at the nonprofit’s ReStore in Sabraton.
“The house will sit vacant until those hours are completed,” Cook said. Homes are appraised at market value, she added.
The applicant must also be willing — and able — to pay a no-interest, mortgage of usually 20 years and have a decent credit history. Mortgage payments cannot be more than 30% of the applicant’s income. And all mortgage payments are recycled back into the community and used to finance more Habitat homes, Cook said.
No one is turned away, but 30% of the applicants are either not eligible or never fill out the proper documentation, she said.
“It is very important to note that our partner homeowners help build their home, make a down payment, and pay an affordable mortgage. With the help of our communities (Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties), Habitat offers these individuals and families a hand up, not a hand out,” John said.
For people living in Monongalia and Preston counties to be eligible for the Habitat program, the minimum income requirement is $26,110, while the maximum income is $37,300. In Marion County, meanwhile, the income requirement for a family of four ranges from $21,770 to $31,100.
“The biggest misconception is that we give homes away,” Cook said. “What we’re doing is providing home ownership opportunities.”
Money is an issue
As is the case with many nonprofits, money is the biggest problem Mon Valley faces, Cook said.
“It’s a struggle,” she said.
Much of Mon Valley’s funding comes from the Federal Home Loan Bank in Pittsburgh, while the remainder comes from local corporations and individual donors.
The organization is in the process of running its 2019-2020 Annual Appeal.
“Thirty years is a significant time for our local Habitat affiliate to have remained active,” John said. “As we turn 30, we have recently completed our 60th home. We currently are building six more in Monongalia County. Just as importantly, we’ve recently expanded into Marion and Preston counties. We completed one home in Marion County and we are starting pre-development of two to three homes in Preston County.”
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