Habitat for Humanity fighting housing crisis in Blount County

BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. ( WATE ) — Blount County Habitat for Humanity held a dedication ceremony Tuesday for a new home now owned by a single mother.

The organization works to fight the housing crisis by building homes for those in need. It has built 153 new homes in Blount County. The dedication ceremony was for Jabreala Moore ‘s new home she’ll share with her young son.

There are five other homes built by Habitat for Humanity on the same street as Moore’s, and the organization plans to build a total of 20 in that location.

Development Director Mona Nair said the housing crisis isn’t just a real estate issue and has lasting effects on those impacted.

“If you’ve ever been in a situation where your housing is unstable, you know how it can take a ripple effect on many other aspects of your life. Kids who grow up in habitat houses, studies have shown, are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college, they have better physical and mental health, they’re more engaged in the community, they’re more civic-minded, they’re more likely to vote,” she said.

Community partners are vital in the funding and home-build process.

“We build about two to three houses a year and the reason we don’t go above that number is because it is very expensive, it costs us over $190,000 to build one Habitat house, so we need organizations, corporations, individuals to all come together and partner with us,” Nair explained.

To apply for a home, you can reach out to your Habitat for Humanity county affiliate to fill out an application. If approved, you’ll receive a house and education on how to care for it.

“There is a very extensive series of classes that you go through to learn how to become a responsible homeowner, everything from financial management to how to take care of your yard,” Nair said.

Anyone can contribute to a new home in your community, whether it’s financially or getting your hands dirty during a build .

“You can be a corporation, you can be an individual, and we will bring you on board for this team-building experience. One really great way that people don’t think of to help us out is if you’re someone with a nice home or a cool office and you’d like to host a charity fundraiser to benefit Habitat for Humanity, that’s a great, easy way to do it,” Nair said.

Blount County Habitat for Humanity also aids in home repairs. The group has made critical repairs or handicap modifications to more than 600 homes.

For more information about Blount County Habitat for Humanity, visit blounthabitat.org .

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