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Receiving a Home from Habitat for Humanity: Is it as easy as it seems? By: Shea McMurry With so many people without jobs it seems Habitat for Humanity will be building a lot of homes, but the process is a lot tougher than people may think. Some may assume that you can waltz down to the local Habitat office and fill out an application expecting to be approved. The process is much more in depth than it seems. There are numerous steps one must take to receive a home. Currently, our economy is in a bad state. Over the past thirteen months our economy has lost a total of 3.6 million jobs. ("Job Loss Chart: What 3.6 Million Jobs Lost Over 13 Months Looks Like." //Huffingtonposet.com//.) More are predicted to be lost so where does that put the people that have been laid off? They need to support themselves and their families. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that builds affordable homes for those in need.("Habitat for Humanity fact sheet." //Habitat.org//.) A lot of the families who receive these homes are people who are suffering during the recession. The first step to this whole process is actually applying. To apply, you should call your local Habitat office to see if you are eligible. Your Habitat affiliate will inform you about the application process and the availability, cost and size of Habitat homes in your area. ("How to Apply for a Habitat for Humanity House." //Habitat.org//.) Families are selected upon their willingness to become partners in the program; availability to repay the no-profit, no interest load; and of course, their level of need. Habitat has a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. This means that they look beyond race and color when choosing a family. ("How to Apply for a Habitat for Humanity House." //Habitat.org//.) So let’s just say your application has been accepted. Now it’s time to start the building process. Where do the supplies come from? Who is going to build your house and how long will it take? The materials used to build your home are donated to Habitat. Habitat receives building materials, furniture and/or appliances to be put into their new homes. People can donate items themselves or if they work for a company that wants to donate a large amount of materials, he/she may contact the Gifts in Kind department.( "Material Donations." //Habitat.org//.) As for builders, Habitat homes are mostly built by volunteers. To be a volunteer in my area you need to be willing to work with others and be over the age of sixteen. Volunteers who are between the ages of 16 and 18 need a parent/guardian’s consent.("Volunteer." //NewBernHabitat.org// ) You may be thinking to yourself how boring it would be to take your own precious time and go sweat waterfalls buildinga house fro somebody else. What you don't realise is that volunteering can be a lot of fun. For example,a group of college students went to Volusia County for their sping break. Instead of hitting the beach all day they chose to work at one of Habitat's build sites. They enjoyed the expierince and said that it was definitely worth it. (//College Students Give Back, Pass on Party//. Dir. WESH Orlando.)The amount of time it takes for the home to be completed varies depending on where your house is being built. For instance, in Charleston, SC it takes from 6-8 months to build the home.("Homeownership Q&A." //CharlestonHabitat.org//.) However, in Tillamook County, Oregon a home can take as long as 2 years to be built.("How Long Does it Take to Get a Habitat Home?." //OregonCoast.com//.) It has been a long journey but your house is complete and ready to move in. A great weight has been lifted but there are still some final questions that need to be answered. Will you have to pay for your new home? Is it just a gift from Habitat? Are there any strings attached? Should you be giving back to the organization who gave you a home? First of all, you will have to pay for your new home but not nearly as much as it would cost if it was on the housing market. There are many different factors that come up when deciphering a mortgage plan. If you live here in the United States, the average cost of a home is $42,500 but in some developing countries a house can cost as little as $700.( "Facts." //SA.Rochester.edu//.)Monthly payments on a Habitat home are decided when you consider how much the family income is so that you can see what the family can afford. Now, you as the home owner must realize that even though you have gone through the application process, been accepted and your home is done you still have one promise to make. You must commit to hundred of hours in your own labor to volunteering with Habitat. Habitat calls this your sweat equity.("Habitat for Humanity fact sheet." //Habitat.org//.) All in all, the process all together isn't a simple one. There are multiple steps one must cover and barriers to conquer before and after you receive a home. If you are considering applying for a home from Habitat for Humanity I would suggest going to their website or calling your local affiliate to find out if you are eligible, and the answers to any other questions you might have.

Works Cited: "Job Loss Chart: What 3.6 Million Jobs Lost Over 13 Months Looks Like." //Huffingtonposet.com//. The Huffington Post, 6 Feb. 2009. Web. 11 May 2010. .

"Habitat for Humanity fact sheet." //Habitat.org//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 9 May 2010. .

 "How to Apply for a Habitat for Humanity House." //Habitat.org//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 10 May 2010. .

 "Material Donations." //Habitat.org//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 9 May 2010. .  "Volunteer." //NewBernHabitat.org//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 10 May 2010. .  "Homeownership Q&A." //CharlestonHabitat.org//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 11 May 2010. .  "How Long Does it Take to Get a Habitat Home?." //OregonCoast.com//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 10 May 2010. .  "Facts." //SA.Rochester.edu//. Habitat for Humanity, Web. 11 May 2010. .  //College Students Give Back, Pass on Party//. Dir. WESH Orlando. 22 Mar. 2010. //http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/college-students-give-back-pass-on-party/1d0y247ku//. Web. 7 May 2010. .