Eleventh Home (2008) for the Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity

OUR 11TH HOME
Information and photos about our homes come from articles published by the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune.

Copples Selected as Next Chillicothe Area Habitat Family
Published: Monday, December 3, 2007 C-T

C-T Photo by Laura Schuler

CAPTION: Members of the Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity gathered late Thursday afternoon at the Constitution-Tribune with the newest Habitat family, Adam and Kathy Copple and their daughter, Brooke, 3.

The Copples were among 12 area families who submitted applications in hopes of becoming the next Habitat family. Pictured are, from left: Brenda Wright, Habitat vice president and chairman of the family selection committee; Linda Dietzschold, board member; Adam, Brooke and Kathy Copple, Connie Epperson, board member; and Brian Johnston, board member with his daughter, Katelyn, 1.

Adam and Kathy Copple, with their daughter Brooke, 3, rent a small, two-bedroom house in Dawn, Mo. Together, they share a kitchen, a living room, a utility room/bathroom, and two little bedrooms. Next year, however, their surroundings will likely be a bit roomier because the Copples learned just recently that they are the newest Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity family. “We are just really excited. We're happy to be able to work with Habitat all next year and we think it will be a fun process to see how it's (the home) is built,” Kathy said.

The Copples were among 25 families who attended a Habitat orientation meeting in September and were one of about a dozen families who submitted applications to Habitat members a month later.

That's when the Habitat family selection committee jumped into action. Brenda Wright, committee chairman, explained that she and her committee members: Sherry Savage, Sheila Clark and Habitat home owners Brenda Buck and Angie Newsom began the detailed and somewhat lengthy process of selecting the next Habitat family as soon as the application deadline had expired.

Wright said that committee members reviewed each application, checked out references and verified employment. They then teamed up with one another to visit the home of each family. After that, the committee made its final recommendation to the Habitat board, which subsequently gave its approval on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

The Copples were notified later on that evening by a small group of jubilant Habitat members who were eager to break the news. Kathy said that while they thought they had a good chance of being approved, by 9 p.m. that Tuesday, she and her husband assumed that another family had been chosen. “We were just so surprised when we opened the door,” Kathy said. She added that her daughter seems very excited, even though she doesn't quite understand what's going on. “We just told her that she's going to get a bigger room,” Kathy said.

Wright said that the decision to pick just one family from those that had applied was a difficult one. “We had a lot of families with great need this year,” Wright said. She explained that several factors play into the decision on just which family should be recommended to the Habitat board.

Donations to the Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity are always welcome and can be sent to the Chillicothe Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 913, Chillicothe, MO 64601.

On September 17, 2007, we welcomed a "nearly full house" representing 25
area families interested in applying for the 2008 Habitat home.
Completed applications were due by 4 p.m., October 17, 2007.

Brenda Wright, chairman of the Habitat Selection Committee

Family Notified: November 20, 2007
Groundbreaking: April 28, 2008
Home Dedicated:

CAPTION: The site at 405 Martin Street sported little more than a foundation last week when Habitat for Humanity Care-A-Vanners arrived on the scene. Now the structure is up and on Thursday, May 8, 2008, volunteers began hanging siding and sheet rock.

There are 17 Care-A-Vanners from nine states participating in this build ranging in age from the late 40s to 88. The Care-A-Vanners help build homes in Chillicothe each spring. This is the 11th home which the Chillicothe Habaitat for Humanity has built since its formation in the mid-1990s.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley, Thursday, May 8, 2008

Habitat Orientation Meeting September 17, 2007
9/2/07 (Story by Diane Davis)

Livingston County residents are invited to learn about the application process for the 11th Chillicothe Habitat home at a meeting on Monday, Sept. 17. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church, 421 Elm St., Chillicothe.

The 2008 Habitat family will be chosen based on three criteria: 1) ability to meet monthly payments, 2) demonstration of need for adequate housing and 3) willingness to partner with Habitat, including working 250 hours for their "sweat equity" down payment.

Applicants have until 4 p.m. October 17 to complete and return their Habitat application and supporting documents to PO Box 913, Chillicothe, or to one of the Family Selection Committee members. The Family Selection Committee will use the next 30 days to check references, review background checks, interview applicants and make a final selection. "We expect to announce the 2008 Chillicothe Habitat family by Thanksgiving weekend," said Brenda Wright, chair of the committee.

The Chillicothe Habitat for Humanity chapter began in 1997 and is completing its 10th home. Nationally, Habitat got its start in Georgia in 1976 and is now working in 70-80 countries.

Donations to the Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity are always welcome and can be sent to Chillicothe Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 913, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Messages for the local Habitat chapter can be left at 660-646-3667.