Habitat for Humanity houses ready for hurricane-displaced families

SCHRIEVER, La. - Sounds of hammers pounding and saws buzzing have filled the air in the small Bayou Blue community, where the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate has been constructing 50 houses for the displaced families of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity, one of more than 2,000 Habitat for Humanity International affiliates, is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. The local affiliate was formed in 1996 by a small group of people in Thibodaux. The homes are built by volunteer laborers through donations of money and materials and sold at no profit. They are financed with no-interest loans and the homeowner's monthly mortgage payments are used to build more homes. In addition to a down payment and mortgage payments, homeowners are required to work 350 hours, called "sweat equity," on their own homes and on building houses for others. Homeowners, or "partner families" as Habitat calls them, are selected based on three criteria: the need for affordable housing; the ability to repay the no-interest, no-profit loan; and the willingness to be a partner by working on their own house and the houses of others. After last year's hurricanes, Habitat for Humanity International recognized the needs along the Gulf Coast and sent representatives to assess the area. Jeanne Autin, executive director of Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity, said the international group was looking for an affiliate "that had a lot of land inventory, which we didn't." But around that time, Autin noticed some streets being developed and found out property was being developed for affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity International stepped in and gave the local affiliate the funds to purchase the development. Autin said their goal with the Bayou Blue development is to build 50 houses by the end of 2006. The group is also looking at property in another area that has been restricted for hurricane recovery efforts to assist displaced families. Their goal in that area is to build 20 houses by the end of 2006. More than 400 volunteers from throughout the United States have worked on the project in Bayou Blue since it began this January. The local affiliate uses existing volunteer programs and teams of people such as church or business groups and college students. Father Jim Morrison, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Thibodaux, has recruited volunteers for the local Habitat for Humanity group and donated $45,000 to it. "We received a lot of donations following the hurricanes to keep our shelter operating. After the shelter closed, we had funds leftover; and since the money had been donated for hurricane assistance, we wanted to find a way to use it for that purpose," he said. "I heard about Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity's project and since the houses are being designated for those who lost homes to the hurricanes I thought this was a great way to use the funds," he told The Bayou Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Some of the houses at the site were framed in Washington last November as part of a project called America Builds on the National Mall. Volunteers from across the country came together to do their part for Operation Home Delivery, Habitat for Humanity International's response to the loss of housing caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The houses were framed on the Mall, then taken apart and shipped to Louisiana. The Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity received 25 of the 51 houses framed in Washington. Individuals who worked on the project included inspirational messages in the frames. Each house is energy efficient, and each is being built on a concrete slab for protection from hurricanes. The houses are 1,050 square feet and have three bedrooms, one full bath or one and a half baths, a kitchen-dining area and a living room. Four different floor plans are being used. Each house is equipped with a refrigerator and stove provided by Whirlpool, a corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity. Chris and Melissa Carrington and their three children, who have lost two houses in hurricanes, will be the first to move into one of the Habitat houses in the development. Currently, Autin said the local affiliate has more houses under construction than families ready to move. She encouraged all families in need of housing assistance to get an application for one of the Habitat homes from local libraries or through diocesan Catholic Social Services.

Find all your stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts at Catholic Online Shopping

---

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops