New project needs partner family
Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is progressing with plans for another home to be built in Carroll County beginning this spring. But the Carroll County chapter of Habitat said a ‘partner family’ is still needed.

One of the easiest ways to find information on becoming a Habitat home owner is to attend one of the upcoming call-outs.

Habitat will hold three call-outs in January. Flora-Monroe Public Library will host the first one Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m. Two more will take place at the Delphi Public Library Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 20 at 10 a.m.

“Previous call-outs have yielded a few responses so far,” said Jim Justice, head of family selection for the local Habitat chapter. “But we know there are many more families who could seize this opportunity and we encourage them to do so.”

Currently there is no deadline for applications for the home being built this year, but Justice hopes to have a partner family chosen by the beginning of April.

“I’d really like to have one chosen now, or more than one so we can be ready for the future,” he commented. “We hope the January call-outs bring us a lot of applicants.”

In order for a family to qualify for a Habitat home, it has to meet the established financial guidelines, each adult must work 250 hours on the construction site or perform other volunteer work for Habitat, save $500 for the closing and attend a series of classes provided by the Habitat office in Lafayette.

“It may seem like 250 hours is a lot to some, but there are many ways to receive credit for that time,” commented Diane Justice, secretary of the Carroll County chapter of Habitat.

She said some examples include helping at Habitat booths at fairs and other events, assisting with fundraisers, attending monthly meetings, and speaking at churches to help gain support.

“We even credit them for babysitting another Habitat family’s children while they attend Habitat events,” she added.

Mr. Justice said he sees a lot of need in the county for help like that offered by Habitat, but not always a corresponding high response to the organization’s efforts in the county.

“Habitat wants to see those who need the help not hesitate in asking for it,” said Justice. “The next partner family will find the program to be as wonderful as past partner families have.”

For information or to apply for a Habitat home, call Adam Murphy at the Lafayette Habitat office at (765) 423-4590 or Jim and Diane Justice at (765) 564-2680.