Habitat for Humanity of Morrow County, Ohio
Family Support Committee
We are currently in need of a person
or persons to help with our family support. If interested, please contact
Cindy Fidler at 419-946-2429 or cfidler@redbird.net
Our partner families are working or have worked toward owning their own home. With this new endeavor will come many new challenges for a homeowner.
First, our FSA (Family Support Advocate) will meet with our new family to help them understand what is going to happen in the near future, and to insure them that we (family support) will be working closely with them during the building process and for a year following. Buying a home for the first time can be intimidating. We are here for the family to help this transaction from renting a home to owning a home go as smoothly as possible and for this to be a pleasant experience.
We also talk about what, when and how everything will be happening and what exactly they should/will need to be doing. First thing, they need to start earning their 250 sweat equity hours. Sweat equity is the time they put into their new home and also for the community. NO family is handed the keys to a new home without working alongside the other volunteers when building their house. And while some people may think it is impossible to get these hours completed in a timely manor, it really is EASILY done once you get started! A lot of people do not realize how much time goes into building a home. Usually, they exceed their required hours by far!
Second, we try to educate our partner families in ways that will help prepare them for homeownership. Being a homeowner now means that you don’t call upon a landlord to fix leaky faucets, broken water pipes and both major and minor maintenance issues. This becomes their problem. Therefore, we have required workshops that will help give them the direction in what it takes to fix these problems.
We focus on finances with our partner families. We help our partner families understand the value of a non-interest bearing loan. Once we explain the difference and show them in dollars, the appreciation for their new habitat home grows. While not only are they getting a place to call their own, to some families, this would be the only way they could actually afford a decent home to call their own.
We also require budgeting skills workshops, which will also
help to teach the value of every penny and how important it is to be aware of
unexpected costs. Being a homeowner
means THEY pay property taxes and homeowners insurance. These are two expenses that HAVE to be paid!
And finally in the financial aspect, we try and express the value of good
credit and tips on (if need be) cleaning up a bad credit report.
Not only do we educate our partner families in finances, costs to homeowners and general maintenance but also dealing with their neighbors. Getting along with your neighbors will be a major factor for them after purchasing their new home. These are people that are going to be living in their neighborhood, and being a good neighbor is very important!
For
more information on the Family Support Committee, call or e-mail Cindy Fidler 419-946-2429
cfidler@redbird.net