Harman Takes Over As Habitat For Humanity Executive Director
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Lori Harman is Habitat For Humanity of Kosciusko County's new executive director.
Harman has served as Habitat's family services director for seven years.
Habitat's board of directors recently established her as executive director, and she will keep the family services director role as well.Harman replaced Ned Van Nostrand, who served as executive director for three years. Van Nostrand resigned in August to pursue other opportunities in his home state of Iowa.
Harman's duties will include running day-to-day operations of Habitat and promoting the organization.
There currently is a nine-member board of directors that sets policies and procedures.
Habitat's mission is not to just build houses, but rebuild lives, according to Harman.
"Success is not measured by the number of homes we build, but by the lives that we change," Harman said. "It's not about hammers and lumber, but breaking the cycle of poverty."
Volunteers in the community work together to build homes. Families must meet three criteria to qualify to receive a home.
They are evaluated based on their need for proper housing, their ability to pay back a zero percent interest loan, and their willingness to partner with Habitat.
"We do not give away these houses for free, the homeowners must pay a mortgage that is based on the construction cost of their home at a zero percent interest loan," Harman said.
Harman said she feels her role as family services director will assist her in her new executive director position.
"I want to promote awareness about the lives that have been changed by Habitat," Harman said.
She said many homeowners have used the homes they have received from Habitat as a springboard for positive things.
Some examples are that a single mother went back to college and received a degree; a family previously living on minimum wage was able to own its own business after receiving a home; and a family with children who had severe health problems became healthier because of the new environment they were in.
Harman said Habitat does not receive any government funding, and is solely funded by donations from individuals, corporations, churches and foundations.
Habitat was started in Kosciusko County in 1991, and is in the process of building its 19th home.
A home is currently being built by the Wawasee High School Building Trades program for a woman and her four children in Syracuse. The home is expected to be completed this winter.
To volunteer or learn more about Habitat, e-mail kosciuskohabitat@gmail.com
