Habitat for Humanity seeking family for new home
Local Habitat for Humanity board president JoAnn Benenati, left, and family selection coordinator Richard Kontz stand on the future site of the newest Habitat for Humanity house on the corner of High St. and Pershing Ave Tuesday, November 11.

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — With the third Habitat for Humanity home heading toward completion, Habitat officials are looking for a new family — with five to eight household members — to become their fourth partner family.

The building site is about two blocks west of the Playground of Dreams, the building permit has been filed, and the four bedroom, two bath, two-story design is basically set.

Now a qualifying family is needed.

In an interview at the building site on Tuesday, Jo Ann Benenati, president of the Habitat board, and Richard Kontz, Habitat’s family selection coordinator, talked about their search for the right family.

Although Habitat conducted several public search meetings in the fall, Kontz explained, only four families have submitted applications and none of those applications are complete yet. In addition to filling out the application, interested families must submit copies of required documentation, like income tax returns, pay stubs, bank account statements, utility bills, and loan paperwork.

Because of the size of the next house, Kontz said, Habitat guidelines require the qualifying family to have five to eight members, have an annual income between $21,100 and $25,800, and be able to afford a mortgage payment of $390 to $450 each month.

Rather than hold more public meetings, Benenati and Kontz are urging interested families to contact them at the Habitat office, Kontz’s store, or via e-mail by the deadline of Dec. 31. The Habitat office is located inside Coldwell Banker Reality, 1208 E. Highway 66, and the office hours are 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Kontz’s business, Bread of Life Christian Bookstore, is located at 104 S. Boardman, and it is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. E-mailed inquires to habitatgallup@yahoo.com must include contact information such as name, mailing address, and phone number.

Benenati, Kontz, or other Habitat volunteers are available to help interested families fill out the application and make copies of the required documents.

In addition to family size and income requirements, interested families must have a need for adequate housing and must be willing to partner with Habitat by attending financial management classes, putting in 500 hours of “sweat equity” volunteer work, and being responsible for the care of their completed house.

The family chosen for this fourth Habitat house will qualify to purchase the home with a 20-year, no-interest mortgage. Kontz estimated the total cost to be $90,000, which includes $80,000 in building costs and $10,000 in land value. Habitat will try to assist the family obtain grants to help buy down the mortgage — something that was done for the first two partner families in Gallup — but that is not guaranteed.

“We’re never going to build one for that cheap again,” said Kontz, comparing the newest building project to the first two Gallup Habitat homes. In addition to higher construction costs, and the uncertainty of grant money for home buyers, Habitat now requires land values to be factored into the home price.

As always, the nonprofit organization is in need of financial donations and community volunteers. Benenati provided the accompanying list of ways area residents can help, including events this week.

And although the efforts to raise money and recruit volunteers are a continual challenge, Benenati and Kontz believe with each new finished home, an important victory has been accomplished in Gallup. For example, Benenati said, when the third house is completed and dedicated, Habitat will have built homes for 24 local residents, 19 of them children.

In addition, Kontz said, two of the houses have contributed to the new home owners’ economic stability by including wired storage sheds that the families are now using as workshops to create Native American arts and crafts.
Information: (505) 722-4226, habitatgallup@yahoo.com, or www.habitatgallup.org.