Hands-on help

Steven Barry and Donna Renschen know what "sweat equity" means.

The Cape Girardeau residents logged in more than 1,000 hours of labor while on their way to owning new homes through Habitat for Humanity. They've cut trim for siding, worked on faucets, hauled carpet padding and lent a hand wherever they could on several homes.

Working alongside Habitat for Humanity volunteers, the crew added finishing touches on Tuesday before the dedication of a home at 524 S. Pacific St. Barry, his fiancee and their three children will take possession of the house in a few weeks.

One requirement for a Habitat homeowner is to contribute 350 hours of labor to their home and others. Barry said he gave more than 600 hours just because he enjoys the work. Now that he has a new house, he will continue to volunteer.

"I see it as a partnership that helps other people and, in the long run, benefits the community," Barry said.

On Tuesday, even though Renschen had completed the required hours, she worked on the house with Christy Young, Barry's fiancee.

"I did it out of the goodness of my heart," Renschen said. "And we're good friends."

Last week, ground was broken on College Street for her home, which will be built just around the corner from Barry's house. Renschen is raising her two grandchildren. The children's mother died of heart failure at age 22.

For the last 19 years, the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity has averaged building one home a year. The first home was a renovation project that took nearly four years to complete, said executive director Bob Bohnsack.

This year, the Pacific Street home was completed in six weeks as a result of a "blitz build," in which more than 100 volunteers worked every day rather than only on weekends. Two more homes are scheduled for completion by Dec. 20. Within the last two years, Habitat for Humanity has hired two full-time staff members, Bohnsack and construction manager Tim Campbell. Now, the goal for 2006 is five to eight homes. Depending on people's schedules, homes can be constructed in a few weeks to four months.

'Spread the blessing'

The Pacific Street home was largely funded and staffed by La Croix United Methodist Church. Associate pastor Rob Mehner said that the church regularly sets aside a percentage of its income for mission projects, such as aiding other churches and Habitat for Humanity. Furthermore, the church set aside a percentage of the building fund for their recently built sanctuary. The extra money allowed them to contribute more than ever before to Habitat for Humanity.

"As we are blessed with having the ability to move into a building that meets our needs, we're trying to spread the blessing out among other people," Mehner said.

New recruit Barry Barnett joined through a community service class at Southeast Missouri State University. Since Monday, he fulfilled half of his 30-hour requirement by installing doors, caulking, painting and erecting a retaining wall. He said he has a newfound respect for volunteers and Habitat for Humanity.

"It's nice to help people out that are hard-working people who deserve a better place to live," Barnett said.

Secure in his job as a Cape Girardeau city employee, Barry said that he initially applied to become a weekend volunteer. He was caught off guard when he received an application in the mail, and even more so when he was approved a few weeks later.

"That's where the numbness comes in," Barry said. Even though he was seeking a home or apartment at the time, he didn't dream that he qualified for a Habitat home. He and his family currently live in a three-bedroom townhouse that is too crowded for his fiancee and their three children, Christopher, 13, Kayla, 5, and Shaine, 19 months.

Their new 1,242-square-foot home on Pacific Street has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a family room, a kitchen/dining room and a back patio with a large backyard.

Just as the congregation of La Croix out grew its existing building, so can families. Habitat for Humanity aims to eliminate substandard housing within a community, Bohnsack said.

"We seek families that do not qualify for loans through a bank or mortage companies," Bohnsack said. Based on information provided by the United Way of Southeast Missouri, the local Habitat for Humanity sends out hundreds of applications and receives back about 60 a year.

A sliding scale of qualifications is based on a family of four that makes between 25 to 50 percent of Cape Girardeau County's median income of $54,800. Also, a family must be spending at least 30 percent of its income on rent and utilities, Bohnsack said. For example, rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Cape Girardeau averages at $667 a month. An individual would have to work 40 hours a week at $12.83 an hour to meet the requirement.

Mortgage payments are about $350 a month for homes through Habitat for Humanity, with a 20-year no-interest loan.

Staff writer Scott Moyers contributed to this report.

jmetelski@semissourian.com