Habitat for Humanity home nearing completion
Habitat home nearing completion
By Logan Watson
Gibson County Habitat for Humanity’s most recent project is almost ready for its new owners to move in.
Executive Director Gary Paschall spoke with members of the Trenton Rotary Club last Tuesday afternoon about the project and the organization’s plans once the keys are handed over to its future owner.
“She has probably put in over 300 hours of of her own labor,” Paschall said. “Just her. That’s not including what her daughter, son and sister have done. It’s about an 1,800 square foot house with 12-foot ceilings. She and her family painted the inside of that entire house.”
Paschall said that he hoped that the new owner would be able to move in by the end of the month.
The house, located on East College Street in Dyer, was once the Parsonage of the Dyer Cumberland Presbyterian Church next door, but was given to the city several years ago and used for storage until it was donated to Habitat for Humanity.
“The house was in danger of being torn down,” Paschall said. “Twelve or fourteen months later, we’re almost done.”
“The mission of Habitat is basically to build affordable housing for people that can afford it and deserve it,”
Use this QR Code to donate to Habitat for Humanity
Paschall said. “A lot of people think we just give away houses. We don’t. Occasionally we will do something where people don’t have to pay. We call those our ‘Aging in Place’ programs.”
Aging in Place programs allow Habitat to complete smaller projects, such as wheelchair ramps and other small repairs, for elderly and handicapped people in need.
“There is a hardcore shortage of affordable housing,” Paschall said. “Affordable housing is tough to find, especially when you’ve got people out here making $12, $14 per hour. Sixteen dollars an hour is roughly $32,000 per year. You cannot buy a decent new house for that.”
Paschall said that he was looking forward to getting started on Habitat’s next home, but the group needs to raise more funds.
“We’ve got $28,000 in the bank to finish this house,” Paschall said. “Dyer County has got $256,000 in the bank right now. If they can do that, why can’t we?”
Paschall said that he was considering partnering with a local business to raffle off a big-ticket item like a lawn mower or a rifle, but those fundraisers are still in the planning stage. Until then, the best way to help Habitat is to donate or volunteer.
“You don’t have to be a skilled person,” Paschall said. “You can be a crackerjack carpenter, or you can pull wires or mow the grass. But one of the most important things you can do is talk us up. Let people know we’re here.”
