Habitat Director eyes growth in program
March 27, 2017 at 4:18 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
“I think it’s very possible for the county to sustain four homes a year – that’s what we need to be aiming for,” said Mickey Kaufman, who took over as executive director about two and a half years ago.
On Saturday, Habitat supporters gathered to celebrate the completion of the third house and will meet again in a few months when a fourth house is complete.
Several times on Saturday, supporters pointed to what appears to be a new-found sense of energy.
More than 200 people volunteered their support for the house build and that’s likely the most ever in Kosciusko County, Kaufman said.
Kaufman credits the group’s board of directors for developing new policies and procedures that are lining up more volunteers and better evaluating prospective homeowners.
As a result of revitalized efforts, Kaufman said she thinks they’ve been able to tap into a broader base of support in the community.
“That’s all leading to more possibilities and more opportunities,” she said.
Part of her ongoing work is to overcome some misconceptions. One of those is that recipients receive a house free and clear and don’t make house payments. Typically, the new homeowners make payments of nearly $500.
“People think we give away houses,” Kaufman said. “We don’t do that.”
Another misunderstanding is that the national organization pumps money into the local habitat chapter. In reality, it all comes from local support, she said.
Much of the work still relies on the recipients.
These people put in 250 hours of sweat equity and then begin paying a mortgage for the next 25 or 30 years, she said.
Habitat relies on several sources for money.
In addition to donations, some churches not only provide volunteer support, but offer money through monthly, quarterly and annual donations. Kaufman said they would benefit greatly if more churches did the same.
The local organization is also trying to open a Habitat Restore, which accepts second materials and items – everything from doors and tubs to cabinets – and then sells the stuff and channels the profits into future Habitat projects.
For more than a year, Kaufman said the local group has been accepting items and then shipping those to other Restores in an effort to prove they can establish a strong enough inventory big to warrant opening a store.
Plans to establish a Restore have been approved and the group is now looking for a location to open the store, she said.
“We’re bringing in a lot of resources, but we need more donations from people who think about us rather than throw it in the landfill,” she said.
Occasionally, Habitat will be invited to remove items from homes slated for demolition.
She expressed appreciation for the increased level of support, but said the need for more continues.
“We have too many families that are in need of housing and too many families that are living in really bad situations,” she said. “We need everybody’s input.”
Anyone interested in learning more can call Kaufman at 574-269-4104.
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“I think it’s very possible for the county to sustain four homes a year – that’s what we need to be aiming for,” said Mickey Kaufman, who took over as executive director about two and a half years ago.
On Saturday, Habitat supporters gathered to celebrate the completion of the third house and will meet again in a few months when a fourth house is complete.
Several times on Saturday, supporters pointed to what appears to be a new-found sense of energy.
More than 200 people volunteered their support for the house build and that’s likely the most ever in Kosciusko County, Kaufman said.
Kaufman credits the group’s board of directors for developing new policies and procedures that are lining up more volunteers and better evaluating prospective homeowners.
As a result of revitalized efforts, Kaufman said she thinks they’ve been able to tap into a broader base of support in the community.
“That’s all leading to more possibilities and more opportunities,” she said.
Part of her ongoing work is to overcome some misconceptions. One of those is that recipients receive a house free and clear and don’t make house payments. Typically, the new homeowners make payments of nearly $500.
“People think we give away houses,” Kaufman said. “We don’t do that.”
Another misunderstanding is that the national organization pumps money into the local habitat chapter. In reality, it all comes from local support, she said.
Much of the work still relies on the recipients.
These people put in 250 hours of sweat equity and then begin paying a mortgage for the next 25 or 30 years, she said.
Habitat relies on several sources for money.
In addition to donations, some churches not only provide volunteer support, but offer money through monthly, quarterly and annual donations. Kaufman said they would benefit greatly if more churches did the same.
The local organization is also trying to open a Habitat Restore, which accepts second materials and items – everything from doors and tubs to cabinets – and then sells the stuff and channels the profits into future Habitat projects.
For more than a year, Kaufman said the local group has been accepting items and then shipping those to other Restores in an effort to prove they can establish a strong enough inventory big to warrant opening a store.
Plans to establish a Restore have been approved and the group is now looking for a location to open the store, she said.
“We’re bringing in a lot of resources, but we need more donations from people who think about us rather than throw it in the landfill,” she said.
Occasionally, Habitat will be invited to remove items from homes slated for demolition.
She expressed appreciation for the increased level of support, but said the need for more continues.
“We have too many families that are in need of housing and too many families that are living in really bad situations,” she said. “We need everybody’s input.”
Anyone interested in learning more can call Kaufman at 574-269-4104.
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