Foreclosures Not Sparing Habitat For Humanity

May 9th, 2008

Foreclosure houses make no distinctions – now the foreclosure virus is not sparing Habitat for Humanity. The uniqueness of Habitat for Humanity Houses is that they are simple and yet decent as well as affordable. The houses are built following similar guiding rules. These are modest in size – large enough for the family but small as regards construction and maintenance expenses. The houses are decent being built with locally available quality materials. The construction staff comprises of trained personnel who educate volunteers and involves the family in the work. The designs of the houses are in tune with the climate and culture of the locality. The units are affordable because of volunteering labour, efficient construction methods, modest sizes and no-profit loans.

Two such adjacent houses were sold off at an auction. These are now lying vacant. Jeremy Browning of Charleston Habitat for Humanity commented that these are extremely rare instances. The circumstances leading to the foreclosure houses are not the usual ones. If a family decides to walk away they cannot be contacted and the house will be taken only at the point of time. The houses have been boarded up. Since 1989 more than 60 houses have been built under their aegis. Of these only four have been foreclosed upon. Usually the borrowers do not make the all-out effort required to keep up payments. The length of time given is also generous – stretching from 12 to 15 months.

One of the proud owners of a Habitat house is Janet Davis. This has been her home for the last six months. She has not as yet come up with mortgage problems. It is however reassuring to know that if she did, then Habitat would be behind her to help. The houses were sold for $80,000 to $90,000 each. After $70,000 has been repaid, the money that is left over becomes a bonus for the house owner to keep!

In US and Canada the Habitat houses are usually made of wooden frames having walls of gypsum board and roofs from asphalt shingle. Alternative building materials like adobe or straw is also used. A 3 bed roomed unit will not occupy more than 1,050 square feet according to specific guidelines. The entrance does not have steps. The passage doors and corridors are wide. Habitat Houses are making themselves known globally. In the developing world the houses are however much smaller than their counterparts on the American continent.