FINDING THEIR WAY HOME: LOCAL GROUP THRIVES ON HELPING HOME OWNERS HELP THEMSELVES

As new home owners, they spend hours helping with the construction of their own house, laboring over chores from hanging drywall to choosing kitchen tile.

It's the kind of job welcomed by Bill Benefield and others who have benefited from a growing number of Habitat for Humanity homes.

"I'd heard of Habitat, but I knew about as much [about them] as I know about the space shuttle," said Benefield, who helped build a new home for his daughter, Cindy Bredekamp. It replaced Bredekamp's mobile home, where monthly utility bills often exceeded $200.

The new home, Benefield said, is something he and his family are proud of and that's a big part of Habitat for Humanity's goal.

The nonprofit organization, which provides affordable housing and helps eliminate substandard homes, has built nine houses in Cape Girardeau with plans for five more near the intersection of College Street and West End Boulevard in the next two years.

"Some affiliates have built as many as 100 in one area," said president Bill Cheeseman. "It would be like a new subdivision going up."

The local group welcomes people who want a new home but need help getting over the hurdles of loans, downpayments and credit checks.

"We're in the business that helps people that banks don't take," said Cheeseman. Habitat helps people who simply can't afford a downpayment or who don't have perfect credit records but have the ability to make regular payments.

Their mantra: "Give a hand up, not a hand out."

The Cape expansion

Habitat has never had to seek new families -- the names of applicants often come to the group by word of mouth. But with plans to build an entire neighborhood of Habitat homes in Cape Girardeau, the board is looking for applicants and volunteers.

Much of the new construction work will progress with the help of Jim Meyer, the group's first project manager hired in February. Until now, the nonprofit organization has relied on volunteers as construction foreman who oversee the project, but that can slow the work since a foreman must be present during construction.

"Sometimes it takes longer to build simply because you don't have the volunteer base," Cheeseman said. "You need construction leadership for the job."

Meyer's job is to oversee construction projects, organize volunteers and schedule work days. His salary is paid in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development administered by Habitat International. None of the grant money can be used for direct construction costs.

Habitat for Humanity can accept federal funds to pay for infrastructure projects like building roads to new homes or purchasing land. But if the group doesn't use its grant for its intended use, then it must be returned.

The Area Wide United Way allocated about $15,000 to Habitat in recent years to help construction projects.

"To do what they do with no staff is impressive," said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way. "You see no greater impact than when you move someone into their own home."

Costs reduced

Habitat affiliates rely on volunteer labor and donations for supplies to build homes. The average cost of a home ranges from $38,000 to $46,000. The basic design is simple, so most homes are built with similar layouts.

Each homeowner is given $1,500 in discretionary money to purchase extras, like adding a half-bath or kitchen tiles, for the house.

Since Habitat began work in Cape Girardeau in 1986, nearly 3,000 people have helped the group construct homes locally. Students, church groups, businesses and other volunteers do the work, usually on weekends.

"Volunteers can drive by a house and see what they've done," Cheeseman said. "They feel like they've accomplished something."

Cheeseman, with the local affiliate board for eight years, began his relationship with Habitat as a construction volunteer in college. After his first afternoon, "I spent nearly every Saturday after that on a project," he said.

"Part of the attraction is that everybody learns something new," Cheeseman said. Volunteers don't have to be experienced to work on the construction site. "We teach them what they need to know."

The number of people who can get involved with Habitat is another of the group's selling points, Jernigan said. Even though the number of people impacted by a project is relatively small, the numbers aren't always a deciding factor when money is considered.

"Habitat has been the best solution for dealing with low-income housing," Jernigan said.

The Area Wide United Way board is considering an affordable housing study to determine what needs the area has and what programs are available. A subcommittee will meet Thursday to talk more about the issue.

Ready for resale?

None of the 11 houses built or rehabbed by Habitat in the past 10 years have been resold. It isn't prohibited, but many times the Habitat homeowners don't want to sell.

"So much of their work went into that house," Cheeseman said. "Even if in eight to 10 years they can move into a bigger house, we've still accomplished our goal."

The question in Cape Girardeau isn't whether there are enough homes, but rather enough affordable homes, he said. Typically, families led by single mothers with a median income of $20,000-$25,000 benefit most from Habitat projects.

"They wouldn't have been able to get the downpayment that a bank would require," Cheeseman said.

Most bank and mortgage loan providers require between 5 and 10 percent of the home's value as downpayment. For Habitat homeowners, downpayments are set at $250.

There is no interest on the mortgage loan for a Habitat house, which typically costs $38,000 for a three-bedroom design. Monthly payments are about $210, or about half the cost of a conventional mortgage loan payment.

According to HUD, Missourians would need to earn $8.89 an hour to afford the $463 monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment or house.

The figures HUD used in its fair market rent affordability report are based on rent and utility payments at 30 percent of annual income.

Habitat homeowners aren't getting financial breaks without a commitment. "Some would think this is a great scheme because we have such low payments and you get the house for half its market value," Cheeseman said.

Not true, he said, since each homeowner must commit to 350 hours of work toward their home's construction.

That work ethic keeps some coming back to help with additional projects.

"We've had some who volunteered to work on subsequent projects," Cheeseman said, "even when they didn't have to be there."

How to learn more

Habitat for Humanity volunteers must be at least 14 and accompanied by one adult for every five youth on a building site.

No experience is required. Tools are helpful but not necessary for the job.

To volunteer, call 204-1685.

Applicants

Anyone interested in becoming a potential Habitat homeowner must complete an application and interview process and work 350 hours toward the home construction. While most owners come by referral, you can call 334-9728 for more information.

Coming:

What: A Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build

When: June 18 to 30

Why: An intense period of work to get construction projects started.

Who: Anyone can help. La Croix United Methodist Church has committed to the project so far.

Where: Construction sites on College and West End Boulevard.