By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity
One in nine Nebraska households spend over half their income on housing. A household is considered housing insecure if their rent or mortgage payment costs more than one-third of the household’s combined monthly income. Rent prices are outpacing wages throughout our nation. One organization with a solution is Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity partners with families to create an affordable path to owning a home.
In last week's column, after visiting with local Habitat president Harold Roller, we learned more about the Alliance branch of Habitat for Humanity and what they have accomplished. Now it is time for more people to get involved—with construction skills, office skills, or donations to keep the Alliance branch going.
Roller is concerned that the local construction crew is aging out. With most of the current team in their 70's and 80's, they cannot safely continue to do things like climb on ladders and roofs. He is hoping to turn the reins over to a new crew committed to the dream of Habitat for Humanity.
Roller stressed that new volunteers do not have to have a strong skill set. They would develop skills by working with other volunteers. Some construction is contracted out to licensed professionals like electricians and plumbers. A roofing contractor was hired for the last Alliance Habitat house.
The City of Alliance building inspector regularly visits a project site to ensure that work is being done correctly. He/she may also make recommendations during a house build.
I asked Roller to be specific about his duties as president of the Alliance branch. He laughed and said that besides running a meeting, he has to do a lot of paperwork. Way too much—he'd rather be doing construction!
What does the paperwork involve? Initially they had to complete paperwork to become a nonprofit corporation in Nebraska, and this has to be renewed every few years. Roller completes reports for both the federal and state governments and the national Habitat for Humanity organization. Roller works with a local attorney and title insurance company to close loans with the new homeowner.
The local Habitat branch has several assets. They have a trailer full of tools. There is cash in the bank. Their most valuable asset is $300,000 in mortgage loans, money owed to Habitat for the houses they have built locally.
If you can step up to keep this great organization active in Alliance, please contact Harold Roller. His email is [email protected], and phone is 308-760-2817.
Habitat for Humanity believes that everyone should have an affordable place to call home. They also believe that when a family owns a house, they are building a better life for themselves, and they are building a stronger community.