Most people know that Habitat for Humanity is that charitable homebuilder that President Jimmy Carter made famous — and that puts residents to work building their own homes.
But you may not have heard that the Clark County affiliate, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, requires applicants to undergo a rigorous selection process that normally begins with an orientation session. The orientation isn’t absolutely mandatory, but it is highly recommended.
“We hold orientations to get potential homeowners familiar with the requirements of the program, to answer their questions and make sure that Habitat’s program is the right fit,” said executive director Josh Townsley.
Four orientations are now scheduled for October:
• 5:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at Three Creeks Community Library, 800-C N.E. Tenney Road.
• 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at the new Evergreen Habitat for Humanity office at 10811 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd.
• 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Vancouver Housing Authority, 2500 Main St.
• 10 a.m. on Oct. 25 at Evergreen Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat’s homeownership program is intended for families and individuals with incomes between 30 and 60 percent of the local median income; a family of four with an annual income between $20,800 and $41,640 would qualify. Visit www.ehfh.org/eligibility to learn more about income guidelines and other eligibility factors.
Partner families must complete homeownership classes and contribute those 500 hours of “sweat equity” during construction (250 hours for an individual or single-parent household). Partner families are also required to save $50 a month toward closing costs and mortgage payments via an Individual Development Account at Share.
The end result of all that is a home of your own with an affordable monthly mortgage plan at zero to one percent interest. Mortgage payments never exceed 30 percent of the family’s monthly income.
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has enjoyed some good news lately. In August, it handed over front-door keys to its 30th Clark County property in 22 years to a single truck-driving dad and his two teenagers. In June, the agency moved to a prominent new home that it’s sharing with the storefront, fundraising wing of the Habitat operation, known as the “ReStore,” which sells donated building materials, appliances, furniture and other home improvement products at thrift store prices.
The new site for both Habitat operations is the former Curt Warner Chevrolet car dealership near Interstate 205 and Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard.
And, Habitat is getting ready to offer its annual “Raising the Roof” breakfast program at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St. The event is free but comes with a fundraising appeal. Proceeds from the event have been helping Habitat’s work along for the past decade. The program will include stories from local Habitat families, highlights from a recent trip to Guatemala and Volunteer of the Year awards.
To learn more and register for the breakfast, contact Melissa Edwards at 360-737-1759 or Melissa@ehfh.org.
