OUR OPINION: Habitat Self-Help Program building for the future

An editorial opinion of The Demopolis Times

Last week, the Demopolis Area Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and Self-Help Housing Program executive director Terrie Charleston invited community members to celebrate Marengo County receiving a $400,000 grant to help build six new homes in the area.

These homes will be going to low and very low-income families who qualify for the program. These families likely do not have any other means for being able to purchase a home in the area.

Now, these families will get a chance to own an over $200,000 home at a much reduced cost with a low-interest loan. Those who are approved for the program must put in work on the house just like typical homeowners who either put in the work to build their own home or use a down payment to help them finance the loan.

With this down payment the families put into the home, they will already have some equity in the home built up when they move in.

This is a great program, and we are so pleased to see everyone working together to make it happen to get the grant and supporting the Habitat for Humanity board of directors. There is no way this program would be as successful if it wasn’t for everyone who contributed time, energy and effort to making it happen.

This not only is working to create new home ownership in Marengo County, it is also a redevelopment of the community. There are older homes that are in need of repair or replacement. This project aims to help with that housing need in our community.

With new housing being built, that’s more tax revenue for the city and county, and it increases the property values of everyone in Demopolis.

This is a great start, and congratulations to Habitat for Humanity and program executive director Terrie Charleston for putting us in a position to grow.

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