Jackson County Habitat for Humanity dedicated its ninth house, located at Duncan Street, in Commerce on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 10 a.m. The house, the affiliate’s ninth build, will become the home of Jason Hendrix.
“In addition to marking the completion of the house, this event will honor all of those individuals, organizations and churches whose generosity of time and money has helped make this house a reality,” said Jackson County Habitat affiliate president Mark Bradley. “It will celebrate a deserving young man’s new home, and the miracle of what can be accomplished through commitment and caring.”
During the dedication attended by friends and many of those who worked to make the house a reality, Rev. Fred Wilson of Homer Baptist Church blessed the house. Habitat board members presented Hendrix with bread, for a pantry that is always full; sugar for a sweet life in his new home; and a penny for continued prosperity. He also received a hammer used in the construction of his home, along with a Bible signifying the blessings that made the build possible.
Among the many who helped make this house a reality are Beeco Building Contractor, Inc., John Brown Electrical, the City of Commerce, Direct Supply, Huber Manufactured Wood, Jackson EMC Foundation, Jefferson Heating & Air, Keith Porter Insulation, Lions Club of Commerce, Mitchell Hardware & Building Supply, Whirlpool Corporation, Legacy Lawn Maintenance, Barry Lord, Surveyor, and Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Commerce.
“I would especially like to thank those members of the Jackson County Habitat board who gave unselfishly of their time on so many Saturdays to work on this house, taking it from just a set of plans and making it a real home,” Bradley commented.
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based housing ministry that uses donations of time, materials and funds from those of any faith, or no faith, to construct homes that replace substandard housing. Substandard housing may include no indoor plumbing, poor heating, roof leaks, three or more people in a bedroom, unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Families selected for Habitat homes must go through a thorough application process, proving need through income and debt information, and being interviewed to ensure they meet Habitat for Humanity requirements.
Once selected, the family must invest a minimum of 300 hours of “sweat equity,” working at the house and attending family support classes on topics that range from how to care for your home to how to establish a budget. Then, each Habitat homeowner carries an interest-free mortgage and makes monthly mortgage payments.
