Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters partner to help little brother

~ The house is the 28th Habitat home built in the area.

Cape Area Habitat for Humanity is building a home at 331 Country Club Drive in Cape Girardeau for a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri little brother and his family. It is the 28th Habitat home built but the first for a little brother in the organization.

This is a new location for a build, but even more significant is the partnership that's formed between Big Brothers Big Sisters and Cape Area Habitat.

Groundbreaking on the home was in late May and a little more than a month later, the home is one-third complete. The home is ahead of schedule. According to T. Robin Cole III, Cape Area Habitat for Humanity board secretary, "It went up fast because we have an army of cooperative volunteers."

Saturday's "Build Day" had 35 volunteers working under on-site construction manager Tim Campbell, with more than 20 volunteers from area Lutheran churches and 10 from Big Brothers Big Sisters, including Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director Becky James-Hatter and volunteers.

"We had so many show up we had to send some home so as not to be tripping on each other," Cole said. "Windows were put in, roof trusses went up, three-quarters of the roof decking was completed."

"The whole house was wrapped for siding, too," said Ashley Barnett, Big Brothers Big Sisters regional program director. It was Barnett's first crack at homebuilding, and she found pounding a nail was a satisfying task, especially knowing her work would pay off for the little brother they were supporting that day.

Cole said the development side of Big Brothers Big Sisters approached him as a potential donor.

"They explained their mission as pairing screened volunteer mentors to young people ensuring children stay in school and out of trouble. They have a significant impact on the academics of young people. This was different than my preconceived notion," Cole said. "Their primary mission is to provide a mentor for every child who needs and wants one, resulting in their success in school and in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters dovetails No Child Left Behind, encouraging children to prosper, graduate from high school and hopefully go onto college. Obviously, we had interests in common."

"It was the perfect match," Barnett said. "Helping a parent to get their life in order with the stable environment of a home is important. We focus on helping the child but the spectrum of what the two of us can do is powerful. If a family can get into a home and become financially independent, then mentors can be even more effective because of the addition of the positive stability of a home."

Cape Area Habitat for Humanity works with the community to build homes in partnership with people in need. The houses are built with a contribution of 350 hours of "sweat equity" labor by partner families.

Barnett said Saturday's build was moving.

"Sharing that time with the homeowner, plus the outpouring of others who were in on the build -- it was an emotional experience," she said.

Cape Area Habitat for Humanity has has completed 25 houses throughout the city since it began building in 1986.

"Our activities have expanded since we set the '25 in 5 goal' in January 2007," Cole said. "In addition we now have new steering committees, one per community, operating in Sikeston, Advance and Perryville under the Cape Area Habitat for Humanity umbrella, who will each raise the $60,000 funds necessary to acquire a lot and the materials to build a house, and they will each construct one house this year. We are expecting to construct eight houses total this year in Southeast Missouri. Half the children in the first 25 built have already been mentored by Big Brothers Big Sisters. We are the only Habitat for Humanity in Missouri working in a formal partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters."

Families interested in Habitat for Humanity should know the family selection committee solicits applicants for families whose income is between 25 percent and 50 percent of the median income. Applicants must be legal residents and have lived in area for at least a year. Families are selected based on need, ability to pay and willingness to partner with Habitat. Families who complete the requirements will receive a no-interest mortgage on a house built to accommodate their family size and budget.

The family is expected to make a nominal down payment before its house is built, and will pay an average mortgage payment of $350 to $375 per month. The family will also pay property insurance and taxes.

For more information, visit www.capeareahabitat.org or call 334-9728.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133