Five Habitat for Humanity of Faulkner County homes in Vilonia and five in Mayflower will be built for survivors of the area’s deadly April 27 tornado, said Shenel Sandidge, Habitat executive director.
She said foundations were supposed to be poured Monday for five homes in Vilonia, but the rainy weather prevented the work.
“That’s just the first phase of it,” Sandidge said. “We’re planning to meet the needs for all those who want [Habitat homes], but right now, we’ve got funding for that many. We have 15 families income-qualified, but we have to do background checks and credit reports.”
That information was completed Tuesday, she said, and she was going to make calls before Christmas.
“That will be a nice Christmas present for them,” Sandidge said.
A group of volunteers with Christian Aid Ministries is scheduled to begin building homes today in Mayflower, she said, and on Jan. 5, the Apostolic
Christian Ministry is scheduled to come to Vilonia to build.
Sandidge said that one home in Mayflower will be renovated, as well.
The Habitat homeowners were chosen because of their age, need, disability “and, of course, No. 1 is, can they handle a low-income mortgage?” Sandidge said.
Habitat for Humanity Homes are not free, Sandidge emphasized. “It’s been very hectic — my main thing has been trying to explain Habitat. They thought it was just for Conway, and they think we give them away,” she said. Neither is true.
Homeowners get a 30-year, zero-percent-interest mortgage, and with taxes and insurance, the payment is under $400 a month. Habitat, not a bank, holds the mortgage.
“Everything goes forward to help others,” she said.
Habitat gets donated materials from different companies and has sponsors who donate money.
“Each home is individually funded; we’re getting money from different sources. Habitat has in-kind contributions,” such as a company that donates appliances, paint, etc., she said. “We end up putting between $15,000 and $20,000 of in-kind donations into a house.
“It’s a joint effort between the disaster-recovery teams and Habitat to make this happen; it’s not just Habitat.”
The long-term disaster-recovery agencies in Mayflower and Vilonia have helped with funding, she said, as well as identifying residents in need.
Sandidge said that although homeowners usually have to perform 400 “sweat-equity” hours on their Habitat homes, only 50 sweat-equity hours are required for these in Vilonia and Mayflower because of the disaster.
“Their class time counts, and they will do small projects on the house,” Sandidge said. The classes cover budgeting and other aspects of homeownership. For the upcoming homeowners, one class has been held to date at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Matt Morris, 35, of Vilonia, an Army veteran of Iraqi Freedom; his wife, Tabitha, 32; and their six children have qualified for one of the homes. The couple’s youngest child has cerebral palsy, and the home will be handicapped-accessible, Sandidge said. Tabitha said three of the children live with them full time, and they have joint custody of the other three.
The couple attended a one-day class at UCA on finances and homeownership.
“It was very informative,” Tabitha said. “There was some stuff we already knew just from life experiences, but it was very informative — little ways to cut back and save money.”
Matt said he was at work at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock in April when the tornado was bearing down on Faulkner County. He called Tabitha to warn her and the children.
“When I looked out, I saw it coming, so I just went to the bathroom and prayed,” she said. Three of their six children were with her. Afterward, the house was still standing, “but all our personal belongings are gone; our vehicles are gone,” she said.
The family members are excited about their new home, although they aren’t sure when it will be completed.
“We’re hoping soon,” she said, laughing.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.