NEW HOME … Adrea Horak (above) does some painting work inside the garage of her new home in Swanton built by volunteers of Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County.
FAMILY AFFAIR … It’s been a family affair in the Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County house building project. From left is Corey Dimodica, soon-to-be house owner, Adrea Horak and Katie Dimodica who had volunteered their time.
(PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
FROM THE OUTSIDE … Pictured is the front porch of the newly constructed Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County home for Adrea Horak of Swanton.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Adrea Horak is looking forward to the day she can finally decorate her two children’s bedroom in better surroundings.
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, she and her two children, Lucy (15) and Griffin (6), will finally settle into their two-bath, three-bedroom new home located on 112 Pennsylvania Avenue in Swanton.
According to Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County Executive Director, Heidi Kern, habitat projects build more than a place to live, but positively impact lives, families, and the communities they serve.
“What Habitat for Humanity does is we our have future homeowners, not only work on their own house, but other projects and being involved in the community,” said Kern.
“I know Adrea’s community involvement is working for the humane society, and she volunteers for them. We called this “sweat equity”, she earned it towards her home.”
“We don’t charge interest when we sell a home to a homeowner. We are non-profit so we live by the biblical principle of helping your neighbors without expecting anything in return.”
On a recent Saturday morning, Horak, who is a Swanton native, along with several other volunteers were busy doing interior work such as painting, putting up closet racks, and installing a new washer and dryer set.
“I definitely appreciate it and that everybody is helping, my family too” said Horak. “I’m just very excited to have like my own space and it makes me feel really good that people are really helping me and my kids out.”
Horak, who had never owned her own home until now, was quite busy painting inside her one-car garage, thus volunteering her own time towards the house.
“She (Horak) was allowed to choose the paint colors and the cabinet colors for the house,” said Kern.
Among the volunteers who was working on the new 1,260-square foot home was Pastor Erich Christman of St. John’s Church in Archbold who also serves as the project’s construction manager.
“The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to provide affordable housing for people that can’t afford a normal mortgage,” pointed out Christman.
“So, it helps that family but also engages with volunteers and they work together. So, it’s the team of volunteers that really does tremendous work for each homeowner.”
Christman has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for nearly 30 years, but not necessarily in Fulton County.
He has served as construction manager for the past three years and his job also involves getting an architect to provide the blueprints before getting it approved through either the local village or the county inspector.
“Once we get the blueprints approved, then we just start contacting an excavator and concrete guy and they do the foundation,” said Christman. “Then work with local suppliers and provide all the materials. We just start building and away we go.”
The main objective according to Christman is to provide a nice home in which it comes with a 30-year mortgage interest free, so they are buying the house.
“It’s a tremendous gift,” noted Christman in reference to the new home. “I just enjoy helping and like being behind the scenes. There has been churches and local businesses who have employees and volunteers come.”
“They may not work side by side, but when they are here, they get to know each other a little better and that helps back what they’re doing. It’s a tremendous opportunity.”
“The joy is to providing them a very nice home when it’s pretty much maintenance free to start with,” he added.
“The key for me is working with the volunteers and teaching anybody and everybody how to use tools and how to take care of their own home.”
Another volunteer, Corey Dimodica of Bowling Green, was busily installing closet brackets in one of the three bedrooms.
“It’s a great opportunity for someone to be able to start their life without being really in debt,” said Dimodica.
“Helping somebody to get that foundation built and start their life and get off on the right track is really beneficial.”
“I just like giving my time to other people because I grew up in the church and helping out other people doing mission trips. Not that I’m not in high school, this is another way of having that same experience.”
Horak found out about Habitat for Humanity from her grandmother, Lee Miller. “She was the one that suggested it, but knowing it was like I wasn’t; going to be accepted for that,” added Horak. “I said to myself, well let’s do it and it worked.”
Kern expressed the importance of the Habitat for Humanity mission having already completed 24 home ownership projects and 8 repair projects, which include a mobility ramp mission while serving 50 adults and close to 70 children in Fulton County.
“What I love about this program is they work for it, and it’s not a hand-out, but a hand-up,” said Kern. “It sometimes can really bring families together to make memories.”
“This is a permanent solution to affordable housing for Adrea and her children. And her family has been involved in helping to get her there and show her the support she needs.”
It’s a lengthy process for a family to apply for a newly built Habitat for Humanity home according to Kern.
“They can call our office (419-335-7000) to apply,” mentioned Kern. “What we do is we send out an application packet and it is extensive, and it has to be because they have to meet three requirements to be within our low income guidelines, show us they have a need, whether its unsafe housing, crowded, overburdened as far as cost.”
“We tell them it’s a long process, so it’s anywhere from six months to two years. Once they’re accepted into the program, they can begin the “sweat equity” program, have to do community volunteerism and work one-on-one with a support mentor who helps them with their budget and their finances showing them things they can change in their life to help themselves have more stability.”
The house which was started last August with over 200 volunteers involved is nearing completion. Kern said the appliances need to be installed along with landscaping and other interior work needed to be done.
“We’re pretty close as far as the punch list,” pointed out Kern. “I am hoping to have a dedication ceremony in October to welcome Adrea and her family in this home. Once we do the official legal closing, she will become the homeowner.”
Horak, who now has a full-time job as camp and program assistant for Scouting America in Toledo is looking forward to the opportunity in taking care of her future new house.
“It’s been a great experience, and I think it will help me like to be able to take care of the house too, because I know how to do a lot of stuff that I definitely didn’t know before.”
“I have a lot more knowledge and then yeah I just get to live here and sit here on my couch and be like I did this,” said Horak.
“My two kids are excited, and they don’t know what to expect I guess. But they’re very excited of having their own bedrooms because I’m going to make their rooms very special for them.”
“It will be different because they both lived most of their lives with me and my parents. It will be nice to have their own area and hopefully they can keep it clean.”
The Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County has been quite busy this summer. They have already constructed two playhouses in Archbold with employees from Farmers and Merchants Bank volunteering their time and effort.
Next month, six new playhouses will be built during the Fulton County Fair on Saturday and Tuesday during fair week with volunteers contributing to the project. They will be located where the former horseshoe pits were located.