Habitat for Humanity wants to build 25 more homes in next five years

On Sunday the Cape Girardeau Area Habitat for Humanity will hand the keys over to a new homeowner for the 25th time since the local affiliate was formed 20 years ago and simultaneously break ground on the next one.

But the organization that famously provides "a hand up, not a handout" wants to ratchet up its efforts, building the same number of homes -- 25 -- over the next five years.

"We built five houses this year," said Habitat board president Paul Lloyd. "So we've demonstrated we can do it. Now we're going to do it. I think it's within reach."

On Sunday, the newest home will be unveiled on College Street in Cape Girardeau near Carter Estates, an area of Habitat Homes near West End Boulevard. An open house will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the home at 836 College St. The groundbreaking will be at 12:45 p.m. for home number 26 near the corner of West End Boulevard and College Street.

Lloyd said the organization can increase its efforts because of a strong board and corporate and private communities that have demonstrated a willingness to lend a hand. The people who receive the homes also have to contribute, paying off no-interest loans over 20 years for a 1,100-square-foot home. They also have to perform 250 hours of "sweat equity" in helping build the homes.

More money is also pouring in, Lloyd said. The United Way of Southeast Missouri this year doubled its donation to $40,000. The Bank of America also recently donated $15,000, and other high-dollar donations are also in the works.

Businesses, civic organizations and churches also help out. Buchheit has built two homes. La Croix United Methodist Church built a home in about six weeks, and several Lutheran churches got together and built several homes over the past few years.

"So we're going to do this," Lloyd said. "We're excited about it."

Cape Girardeau businessman Robin Cole is development chair for Habitat. He said the average three-bedroom house rents for $667 a month and the utility bill runs about $200 a month. Habitat wants to provide a more affordable option for families who need help establishing themselves as homeowners.

"What we're doing is building a house and selling it without any profit," Cole said. "We don't even charge interest on the loan."

People who want to live in a Habitat home must earn 25-50 percent of the median family income, Cole said, which averages about $7 to $14 an hour for a family of four combined. Family heads must hold jobs.

The new homeowners must also pay insurance up front, about $250, along with making the payments of about $250 a month, which goes back to Habitat to build more homes.

"We support making people taxpayers and homeowners. We also take them from substandard housing and put them in decent, affordable houses ... We create permanent social capital."

Cole is confident the group will be able to raise the money for the 25 houses, which equals about $1.65 million. Habitat members are working on tax credit deals they can exchange for materials and more corporate sponsorships, as well as an increase in the $15,000 they get in private donations, Cole said. They get back about $75,000 a year from the new owners of the houses they've already built.

"It's going to happen," Cole said. "I don't want to be unhumble, but I know we can raise the money in this community."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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