By Amber Knox

 

In 1999, the Roosevelt/Curry County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity was established. At one time, there were eighteen affiliates in New Mexico, but now, there are fewer than ten. The organization relies on volunteers, grants, fundraising, and donations to sustain its operations.

Karen Inge, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity, describes the organization as a “Christian-based housing ministry that feels everyone deserves a decent place to live.”

The most recently completed house, number sixteen, was a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Clovis for a single mother raising her three children and her three nieces. The seventeenth house is currently undergoing a transformation from an overgrown lot to a home for a single working mother who also attends Clovis Community College.

Faith Archie, a home recipient, explains what it means to them to have been chosen by the organization: “Habitat for Humanity has impacted my entire family in many ways. First was when we began building our home. The skills we learned have made it possible for us to continue building things like fences for the front and back yard, and all of the little tasks that homeowners face. Next, is the stability of having a home for my children to grow up in and not have to worry about housing. Last, when the house is paid off I will be able to pass the house down to my children, increasing generation wealth. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity also made obtaining my bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Science achievable. Also, my children going through the journey of building our home and completing my education sets the bar for them. We are all very grateful for everyone at Habitat for Humanity, and our experience with each and every person has been a positive experience. We became family and still remain in contact. So once again, thank you to Habitat for Humanity for giving my family this opportunity and skills that we will carry with us forever!”

Habitat for Humanity may be a charitable organization, but the recipients who are fortunate enough to be selected aren’t given a free house. First, they must fill out an application, which is then reviewed by the Home Selection Committee, a local board. The board then visits with applicants who meet the criteria. Before the recipient can choose house plans, they must complete fifty volunteer hours. They are required to work alongside the volunteers every Saturday. Family and friends can also volunteer, and their hours will count toward the required amount. Additionally, the recipient is required to help at fundraisers.

Based on the recipient’s income, payments are established for a thirty-year interest-free fixed mortgage. These payments will be applied toward the next build. The recipient is also required to pay property tax and homeowners insurance.

Before a build can begin, the organization needs to have seventy-five thousand dollars, and it can take up to a year to complete. Acquiring funds, organizing the build, and choosing the new homeowner takes a team of employees and volunteers. The main office in Portales has two part-time employees and volunteers, including retired ENMU math professor Kathleene Salter. She not only taught math from 1972 through 2006 but also kept the scorebook for Greyhound basketball for fifty years. Salter volunteers her time and knowledge to manage the organization’s finances.

Habitat for Humanity has several fundraisers. The ReStore, located at 716 Gidding St in Clovis, accepts donations of plumbing and electrical supplies, furniture, books, kitchen appliances, and more. They cannot accept mattresses, blinds with cords, or caustic chemicals.

Another way the organization raises funds is by selling $3 raffle tickets. Traditionally, Melveta Walker and friends make a quilt to be raffled off. Tickets are sold at Heritage Days, the county fairs, Burns Hardware, and the Peanut Valley Festival. Marcelo and Michelle Fayard donated this year’s quilt. The drawing will take place at the Peanut Valley Festival in October.

Collecting aluminum cans is another way the organization raises money. They have placed large trailers for can donations at the corner of 2nd Street and Avenue D in Portales and on 21st Street next to Trinity Methodist Church in Clovis. Several local businesses also have containers for cans in their offices. The cans are then taken to Ed’s recycling. If your school or business is interested in obtaining a container, please contact the main office of Habitat for Humanity in Portales.

Habitat for Humanity also accepts donated cars. This is a tax write-off for the donor, and the organization can use the funds from the sale of the vehicle for its projects. More information can be given about this type of donation to those interested by calling or visiting the office.

“We all work together to get anything in here to make money,” stated Executive Director Karen Inge.

The contractor, as well as subcontractors such as plumbers and electricians, are all licensed and paid by Habitat for Humanity. However, they have been known to lower their costs or donate materials. My Metal and Clovis Steel have made donations for the past three houses, and Jessie Monteal, out of Muleshoe, installed the roofs at no charge. One of the organization’s board members donated three lots of land, where the current home is being built. Whirlpool donates refrigerators, stoves, and sometimes a microwave and dishwasher. If a washer and dryer are needed, the organization can purchase them inexpensively.

Brice Griffith is the current contractor, and his father was before him. He is a licensed contractor and does the work at a reduced price. There are currently four volunteers who have been on the previous three builds and have extensive knowledge of construction.

Inge explained there is a Dedication Ceremony where everyone who helped attends, and the homeowner receives their keys. In the past, the homeowners have also received a Bible, a quilt from Walker, and a doormat with the family name from Griffith.

In addition to building homes, the organization operates a Home Preservation Program, which is currently in dire need of funding. The purpose of this program is to help people stay in their homes by making necessary repairs, such as roofs, water heaters, wheelchair ramps, and windows.

Those who may benefit from this program are homeowners on fixed incomes or senior citizens who struggle to keep up with repairs.  Similar to the recipients of homes, there is criteria that must be met. The family’s annual gross income must be below fifty percent of the median income for the county where they live. To the extent possible, they must assist the volunteers and provide them with the necessary materials. Applications for this program can be picked up at Habitat ReStore in Clovis, by calling the Habitat office at (575) 359-1344, or by emailing habitatatrcc@yahoo.com, and an application will be mailed to you.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity can visit the United Way volunteer website at volunteerenm.org or the main office located at 620 West First Street in Portales.

Habitat for Humanity is a 501 (c) (3) organization, and donations are tax-deductible.