Habitat for Humanity of Rutherford County is more than just a non-profit organization that builds houses for those in need. Habitat builds fulfilling lives, not only for those who receive the houses, but also for those who donate their time to the organization.
The Rutherford County Habitat is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which is a non-denominational Christian housing ministry. The organization relies on donations, volunteer labor and discounted materials to achieve its goal of building and improving the community, one house at a time.
Rutherford County Habitat building days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and the organization builds an average of 10 homes a year. The group is scheduled to build its 100th home next year. Volunteers can expect to do many things, and construction experience is not required.
Habitat has many building experts on site and as Construction Manager Roy Saylor says, “There is nothing that can be done that cannot be fixed.”
Building is only a part of what this organization does. So if hanging drywall and swinging hammers isn’t for you, then perhaps you could help with food preparation for the builders or a number of other tasks. If you are willing to help, then Volunteer Coordinator Megan Hutchings will surely find something that suits you.
“Whatever direction they shove me in,” said Kit Zelenka, a frequent volunteer about what jobs she does for Habitat. Zelenka is in her 70s and leaves the heavy lifting to everyone else, but she does a lot of painting, caulking and cleanup.
“It is one of the most fantastic programs in the United States. What a leg up for these people to own their first home. And Habitat always makes it fun,” Zelenka said of her experiences.
The families that receive these homes are selected by a committee of volunteers. There is a long list of criteria that these families must fit in order to be considered, but these homes are not gifts. Once a family is selected to receive a home, they are required to put in a certain amount of volunteer hours or “sweat equity” before they even begin building.
“When we were volunteering on other homes we learned how to fix things on our own home,” said Ibisha Ratcliff, a recent home recipient. “Habitat trained us how to do a lot of that type of work so when something goes wrong we don’t have to call a professional.”
A traditional family is required to perform a minimum of 400 “sweat equity” hours to receive a home, but that can vary depending upon the recipients’ situation. Their volunteer work also varies from working on other build sites to helping in the Restore, which is a Habitat warehouse that sells slightly used or overstocked building supplies and décor to the public.
Included in the community service hours is 30 weeks of money management classes that teach these first-time homeowners how to budget and make smart decisions with their finances. The recipients are required to begin paying off their home shortly after construction is competed.
The cost of the home is simply the cost of materials, and they make their payment directly to Habitat. Unlike traditional mortgages held by banks, Habitat does not charge interest, although the monthly payment does include property tax as well as insurance.
“A lot of the families have not had experience with people coming out and helping freely,” said Executive Director Beth Smith. “That shows that there is a different way to live and there are good people that want to help.”
Denise Howard and Ibisha Ratcliff moved to Tennessee after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The life they knew was gone and they were looking for a place to start anew. Habitat has changed more than just their lives, it has changed their minds about society and community.
“When they say Tennessee is the volunteer state,” said Howard, “that is exactly what they mean. Habitat has been a blessing to my life. They have shown me that I can do things and I can stand on my own two feet.”
After Ratcliff and Howard’s home was finished, Habitat helped them get jobs, and when the factory they were working for closed because of the weak economy, Habitat found work for them to do within the organization.
Habitat is not an organization that gives handouts. It is an organization that truly gives people the tools and the opportunity to run and manage their own life. For more information on Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, visit rchfh.org or call (615) 890-5877.