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Saturday December 9 looked to be a beautiful one, and Kristen Garcia along with her daughter Mya were visibly excited. "Super excited. Worn out but excited" said Kristen. Their excitement was shared with the many volunteers that showed up for Habitat for Humanity's framing day. The Garcia's new house was about to begin construction.
Habitat for Humanity Kokomo Executive Director Leanne Fogg, Kristen Garcia and her daughter Mya with Habitat volunteers
It had been a long and somewhat tiring journey to Saturday's event, but Garcia and her daughter were ready to work along with about 30 volunteers who came to help build her dream home. "My son is wrestling at a meet or he would be here today," Garcia said. "We are all excited."
Leanne Fogg Executive Director of Kokomo's Habitat for Humanity chapter explained how "partners" like Garcia were chosen for home build projects, "We do have a selection process. We do what is called an information meeting, there are two nights. There is a power point that tells you everything you need to know about Habitat."
The presentations cover subjects like financial literacy, how much sweat equity the partners must put in, minimum and maximum income levels for members of your household. After the presentations those interested get applications and a date to have them turned in.
"After the applications are turned in we do credit. Credit is not based on credit score." says Fogg. Habitat looks at debt to income ratios instead of credit scores, "Habitat our limit debt to income level is 43%."
Fogg also dispelled the notion that Habitat gives away houses, "There is a mortage, it is not a free house," she states. "They have to be able to pay a mortage."
Habitat for Humanity Build Supervisor Chuck Shaffer Jr. checks wall construction at the latest build site
Habitat also pays attention to a prospective member's debt that could later become a lien on the property, and checks that individuals are not on a sex offender registry. That in particular because minors also volunteer with Habitat. The organization then does home visits of the prospects, "We get to know you, your story," Fogg says. "We make sure you can take care of the house."
After all the research, the Habitat board narrowed this build down to three possibles, and the Garcias were chosen.
For Garcia, who works for Howard County Division of Family Resources the Habitat house build is another goal that the single mother of three has been striving toward. "I went back to high school...I graduated in 2019 and then in 2020 got on at the Division of Family Resources.
"We give people a hand up, not a hand out," states Fogg. Sponsors like Solidarity Federal Credit Union, First Farmer's Bank, Chariot Auto Group and the City of Kokomo help defray the costs of paperwork filing and construction materials, but the partner family is still responsible to pay their mortage.
The Garcias along with volunteer builders were out in force on Saturday, building walls, caulking, cleaning up, and whatever else they could do to help. "Whatever you are comfortable with, we can find you some work," said Habitat Site Supervisor Chuck Schaffer Jr.
If you are interested in donating some time, money, or materials to Kokomo Habitat for Humanity you can call 765-452-8125, or email hfhkokomo@gmail.com for more information.
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