Families Needed

Benton County Habitat For Humanity seeks applicants for homes

"Getting this house lifted a huge weight off our shoulders," said Brandon Woodell.

Woodell, wife Misty and their four children -- three girls and one boy --moved into their Habitat for Humanity home in Bentonville in November 2012. Before the move they lived in a three-bedroom duplex and were quickly running out of money and room, he said.

Fast Facts

Qualifications

Habitat For Humanity of Benton County has a list of requirements families must meet in order to qualify for a home:

• Be either a U.S. citizen or legal resident

• Have lived or worked in Benton County for at least one year

• No bankruptcies in the last seven years

• No items in collections on credit report

• Have steady, legitimate income

• Meet income guidelines

•• Family of one — $12,500-$20,850

•• Family of two — $14,300-$23,800

•• Family of three — $16,100-$26,800

•• Family of four — $17,850-$29,750

•• Family of five — $19,300-$32,150

•• Family of six — $20,750-$34,550

•• Family of seven — $22,150-$36,900

•• Family of eight — $23,600-$39,300

Also, each family is required to pay a $600 down payment, work 400 sweat equity hours and work with a credit counseling service and a financial planner.

The organization follows income guidelines for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Source: Habitat For Humanity

At A Glance

Habitat for Humanity of Benton County

Office and Restore

Where: 1212 N. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Store Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Phone: (479) 273-3638

Fax: (479) 273-3622

Website: habitatbentoncounty…

At A Glance

2014 Apostles Build

The fourth annual Apostles Build is slated to begin in September. The build, which is sponsored by churches — representing the 12 Apostles — takes 10-12 weeks to complete. The partnering churches contribute money and/or time.

For the build in September, the organization is in need of more apostles. Any church that wants to participate may call the Habitat office at (479) 273-3638 for more information.

"We were paying almost double what we are paying now, struggling to make ends meet," he said of his monthly rent. "The landlord wasn't taking care of the place but kept increasing rent."

With four children -- then ages 10, 7, 4 and 19 months -- day care costs were about what the two-income family was paying in rent, Woodell noted. The couple decided Brandon -- whose salary was the lesser of the two -- would quit his job to stay at home with the younger children and be there when his older children returned from school.

The Woodells saw some relief from this change, but they continued to struggle, he said. The family needed more help.

They found hope when they heard Habitat for Humanity of Benton County was seeking families to put into homes, Woodell said.

The nonprofit organization is again searching for families to apply for homes. In May, a single mother and her three sons moved into the organization's 78th home.

The next home build is slated to begin in September, the fourth annual Apostles Build, but the organization does not yet have a family to move into that house.

"We have one application that is really close and two that are pretty close," said Debby Wieneke, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Benton County for nearly 13 years.

The group's Family Selection Committee is working with five to seven families' applications, she said, but more applications are needed.

"They just need to give us a call," she said of anyone who needs a home. "If they think they may meet the guidelines, they just need to give us a call."

That phone call will set in motion the process to determine whether applying is an option. If it is, the family will complete the application, which includes providing copies of various documents -- such as Social Security cards, bank statements and pay stubs -- references and a credit report.

Sometimes it takes the family several months to complete and submit the application. "It just depends on how diligent the family is on getting the paperwork in," Wieneke said.

The completed application is given to the Family Selection Committee as soon as it is submitted. That group meets once a month, but work gets started immediately on checking references and evaluating the application. This process also can take several months. The committee also makes a home visit.

After the committee completes its evaluation, it sends the application to the Board of Directions, which meets once a month, to discuss and vote whether to put the family on the waiting list for a home.

Wieneke said the board almost always approves the family.

The house isn't just handed over, though. The family is required to put in 400 hours of sweat equity, which means each member helps with the build on their home or in another volunteer capacity through the organization, such as working in the ReStore. Families also must pay a $600 down payment. The sweat equity must be complete and the down payment must be made before the family signs mortgage papers on the home.

The home prices vary, depending on the size of the home, but Wieneke said the homes average $70,000 to $74,000. The interest-free mortgage payments average about $400 a month.

"Food, shelter and basic needs are important to all, no matter the income level. People who fall through the cracks are now able to take advantage of many of the basic needs for their families that most of us take for granted," said Mary Read Middleton, chairwoman of the Family Selection Committee of the families who receive Habitat homes. "They are paying so much of their income for housing, and we can help alleviate some of that."

Brandon Woodell said not only has his family's financial situation improved, his family's life has improved.

"We know we have a steady home to live in and to build memories in," he said. "And my kids have an actual backyard to play in," he added.

His advice to anyone who thinks they may qualify: Call Habitat.

"You'd be in no worse position if they told you 'no' than you are in now. At least you would know," he said.

NAN Our Town on 07/03/2014

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