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

OUR 12TH HOME
Information and photos about our homes come from articles published by the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune.

Habitat Caravanners Make Progress on Newest Home
Published: Thursday, May 21, 2009, C-T

CAPTION: Habitat for Humanity Caravanners — a contingent comprised of 14 volunteers from several states — paused for a moment with some local Habitat for Humanity board members and some members of the newest Habitat for Humanity family — the Hugo and Araceli Sanchez family.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

Despite rainy weather, the Habitat for Humanity Caravanners made great progress in the construction of the 12th Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity home. The home, on Wise Street, is being built for the Hugo and Araceli Sanchez family. For at least the last seven years, the caravanners — coming from various states — visit Chillicothe each spring to help build a Habitat home. This year, 14 volunteers came from Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Arizona, Colorado and Canada to help with the effort. When they first arrived, only the foundation walls for the home were completed. During their stay, the caravanners put on the subfloor, framed in the building with assistance from Copeland Development, put on the roof, set the inside walls and completed most of the siding. While in Chillicothe, the caravanners stayed at Grand Oaks.

Sanchezes Named 12th Habitat for Humanity Family

CAPTION: The Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity Chapter has chosen the Hugo Sanchez family as the 12th Habitat family. Pictured are, from left: Jessica, 8, Hugo, Jonathan, 3, Araceli and Bryan, 5. The family currently lives at 1910 Fredrick Street in Chillicothe. Hugo is the manager of the El Toro restaurant.

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler 01 09 09

When Hugo and Araceli Sanchez were married nine years ago, they dreamed of someday owning their own home. “It was always a dream, something we planned on for a long time. But we didn’t know how we would do it,” Hugo said Wednesday. Their dream of home ownership is coming true thanks to the Chillicothe Habitat for Humanity chapter which recently selected the Sanchez family as Chillicothe’s 12th Habitat for Humanity family. According to Connie Epperson, a committee member on Habitat’s Family Selection Committee, the decision of which family to choose was a hard one. “It was a very difficult decision. We wish we could give a home to everyone who applies,” she said.

The Sanchezes, who have two sons: Bryan, 5, Jonathan, 3; and a daughter, Jessica, 8, were chosen for several reasons, Epperson said. “It came down to the (small) size of their home, and they had the boys and girl sharing the same bedroom,” she explained. Epperson added that financial factors figured into the equation as well. In the Sanchez home at 910 Fredrick Street, there are two bedrooms and a bathroom downstairs with a kitchen, small living room and a half bathroom upstairs. Hugo, who works as the manager of the El Toro, restaurant, says he is excited about being a Habitat family. “We didn’t expect it,” Hugo said, adding that they submitted an application to Habitat last year for consideration. “They (Habitat representatives) said we were close (to being chosen),” Hugo explained.

Epperson said six families submitted applications for Habitat consideration — a lower number than in past years. “I think we had less families apply because they have to attend the meeting that we have in September and then they have to pick up and complete the packet (of information),” Epperson said. She added that many families attended the meeting and collected packets, but only six completed them and turned them in by the October deadline.

Families are chosen based on three criteria:

ability to meet monthly payments
demonstration of need for adequate housing
willingness to partner with Habitat, including working 250 hours for their “sweat equity” down payment.

The Sanchezes learned that they were chosen right before Christmas. Typically, Epperson said, a decision on just which family is chosen is made earlier. However, inclement weather caused meetings to be postponed. “What I would like to stress is that this isn’t the first time (the Sanchezes) have applied,” Epperson said, adding that Habitat encourages families to apply more than once.

Araceli, a stay-at-home mother, says the news of getting a home of their own will likely not seem real to the boys until they move in. Jessica said she is excited, but hasn’t decided what color she’d like her own room. The Sanchezes have been in America for 12 years and are currently in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. Hugo is from Guadalajara and Araceli is from Mexico City. The couple met in Columbia, Mo., when both were working in a restaurant there.

As the next Habitat family, the Sanchezes will pay an interest-free 20-year mortgage once the house is complete. Habitat officials have said that the chapter is over half-way to becoming self-sustaining. Once the 20th Habitat home is built, the mortgage payments made by Habitat families will pay for the construction of the 21st home.

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.

Brenda Wright, chairman of the Habitat Selection Committee

Family Notified: January 9, 2009
Groundbreaking: TBA
Home Dedicated: TBA

Habitat for Humanity Opening Application Process
Published: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, C-T

Livingston County residents are invited to learn about the application process for a Habitat home on Monday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at 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. on Friday, Oct. 17, to complete and return the standard Habitat application and supporting documents to a Family Selection Committee member. The Family Selection Committee will use the next 30 days to check references, review background checks, interview applicants and make a final selection. “At the earliest we expect to announce the 2008 Chillicothe Habitat family by Nov. 18,” said Brenda Wright, chair of the committee.

In the organization’s continuing effort to raise funds, Habitat members say they are also searching for a partner to help fund this year’s challenge grant. Last year, a local individual offered to match new funds raised by Dec. 31, 2007, up to $2,500. Wright said that, like last year, a new playhouse will be auctioned in November to raise funds for Habitat. The playhouse will be built to resemble the 2008 Habitat house in Chillicothe and will be sold to the highest bidder after the Holiday Parade.

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

For more information about Habitat or to volunteer, visit the website, www.habitatchillicothe.org. 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.