Shawn Stettner lives in a
modest gray and white home on the north side of Mandan that she helped
build. In 2003 it was Habitat for Humanity's 12th home built in the
Bismarck-Mandan area.
At first, when Stettner's co-workers suggested she apply for a Habitat for Humanity home she thought that she wouldn't qualify.
"I
kept hesitating doing it because I just figured there were probably
more needy families, or more deserving families," Stettner said.
Now Habitat for Humanity is set to begin its 18th home after 15 years in Bismarck-Mandan.
"Before
I got involved I always thought Habitat built a house and then they
just gave it to the family. I didn't realize that was such a
misconception and I don't know if it is still a misconception out
there. I mean we have to make our house payment just like anyone else,"
Stettner said.
A lot of people might still see it that way, but Habitat for Humanity is anything but your normal charity.
When
Habitat for Humanity gets ready to start a project like the house that
will soon be going up at 720 W. Ave. A, one of the first things that
they do is start looking for what they call a "partner family" for the
project.
The partner family can't make too much but they still
need to have enough income to make a monthly house payment. The income
guidelines are between $1,550 and $2,583 per month for a family of four.
Habitat
doesn't give their houses away but they do sell them at no profit and
set up a payment schedule with the partner family that is essentially
an interest-free loan.
Money to build the homes is raised from
grants and community contributions. Jessie Quinn, executive director of
Habitat for Humanity, estimates that they have raised around $1.4
million over the years.
According to their brochure the payments
on a Habitat for Humanity home total $450 per month. That amount
includes the principal payment, taxes, and home insurance escrow.
Some times persistence pays off in the application process.
Brady
Davis was living in a small Bismarck apartment, about 1,250 square
feet, when he was approved for a Habitat for Humanity house. He applied
three times before he was approved.
"The last time I applied was in 2006 and then she let me know in March that I was selected," Davis said.
"It
was kind of crammed tight," Davis said of the apartment he was living
in before moving into his house. "I had four kids sharing a bedroom."
But a Habitat for Humanity house isn't just paid for in dollars and cents. Habitat also requires what's called "sweat equity."
Partner
families are required to put in 400 hours for a married couple or 200
hours for a single parent family working on either their own home or a
Habitat for Humanity house for someone else.
"That was interesting, the main thing was having patience and coming back every day," Davis said about his sweat equity hours.
In
Stettner's case, her house was built on a half lot with another Habitat
house so she put in many hours on her neighbor's house before even
starting on her own home.
"We put a lot of hours in on Marsha's
house and then once hers was complete then I could start putting my
sweat equity hours in on my own place," Stettner said.
At
Habitat for Humanity, they feel that the sweat equity gives the partner
families more pride in their new homes and also helps to make the home
their own.
"I know I way exceeded my hours. I convinced my
daughter to come out and help, she helped put up that wall right
there," Stettner said, proudly pointing at a wall in the living room.
"It's probably one of the best things that I've done short of having my
daughter. It's really awesome when you're here working on your own
place."
Aside from the partner family's sweat equity, Habitat houses often attract 200 to 300 volunteers, according to Quinn.
"There
was one individual, his name was Orville, from around the neighborhood
and he was like 81. He came out there every day," Davis said. "It is a
blessing. I would like to thank everybody in the community for stepping
up and helping us to get it done."
The people at Habitat also
work to accommodate members of partner families with disabilities so
they can put in their sweat equity hours in whatever ways that they are
able to, sometimes even helping out with the paperwork that goes into
getting their house built.
Before moving into their Habitat home, Stettner and her daughter Ashley were living in a small apartment in Bismarck.
"It
was just really too small for mine and Ashley's needs. Her bedroom was
more of a walk way from the living room to the bathroom," Stettner said.
In their house in Mandan, Ashley got to design her own room.
Quinn
said that they like to take special care to make sure that children
from their partner families get to be a part of the process too.
"She
picked out her own carpet, she picked out the paint for her bedroom,
she actually painted her bedroom herself. When they were going to come
in and spray the texture she wanted glitter in her ceiling so she had a
glittery ceiling. I think she even picked out the light fixture for her
room," Stettner said.
"It was fun," Ashley Stettner said of the experience.
Now
that Ashley's grown and living in Bismarck with twin sons of her own,
her sons stay in her old room when they come to see Grandma.
"It's
just been a positive experience. I just was so thrilled to have my own
home. Up until this it had always been apartments. Ashley and I, when
she was little, had moved a fair amount so it felt really good to give
her some roots," Stettner said.
At Habitat they are still taking
applications for potential partner families for "number 18." They hope
to make a decision by April or May. Families can request an application
or more information by calling Habitat for Humanity at 255-7566.
(James Ziegler is a Bismarck State College student. He can be reached at 701-302-0822.)
Make a free website with Yola