Habitat volunteers in Greene County have been very aggressive this summer, completing repairs for two thankful homeowners.
The Travis Edwards family home in Scranton kept volunteers hopping with the removal of several layers of shingles and a roof installation. Other improvements were fascia board, gutter, and downspout replacements, and cleaning/painting the house with the replacement of new siding in damaged areas.
The Lisa Aldrich family home in Jefferson was the other busy project. Aldrich is raising a family of six in a home where water would come gushing in through a roof sorely in need of repair and replacement. With the help of Habitat and its volunteers, Aldrich and her children now are safe and dry when it rains. Also completed were the removal and replacement of over-extended, sagging roof edge supports plus fascia boards.
Given these completed projects, Habitat and its volunteers will focus their efforts on southeastern Greene County, at the home of Randy and Jamie Glass in Rippey. This quaint, well-kept home is in need of a full exterior makeover; roof, siding, windows, and doors. The Glasses have done well to maintain their home but are now turning to Habitat for a “hand up” in making the needed repairs. To complete this project Habitat is teaming with John Deere of Paton. John Deere employees will work at the home Monday-Friday beginning Sept. 12.
“Speaking on behalf of our Habitat board and committee members, we are extremely excited to partner with John Deere in lending a helping hand to the Glass family. With John Deere’s commitment to community we draw one step closer to Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” Heart of Iowa Habitat associate director Jeff Lamoureux said.
This is the second year John Deere of Paton has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to assist homeowners in Greene County with exterior home repairs. Last year John Deere provided volunteers for a Helping Hands projects in Jefferson and Paton.
In keeping with the hand-up, not a hand-out model of Habitat for Humanity, homeowners are required to contribute their own sweat equity working alongside volunteers. Since many low-income homeowners are elderly or disabled, family and friends are permitted to complete this requirement on their behalf. A zero-interest loan over a number of years keeps payments low and within homeowner abilities. Proceeds of these payments are used to help additional families.
“Helping Hands offers optimism when homeowners often feel doubt and despair” added Lamoureux. “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.”
While the Helping Hands initiative was created locally, it has been recognized by Habitat for Humanity International as a model for Habitat affiliates across the nation in addressing the decay of housing in rural communities. The program has been adopted across Iowa and other states including Oregon, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
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Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard and poverty housing. Habitat for Humanity welcomes all persons as partner families and volunteers regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations.
