Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity needs land
TIM FALL
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Published: June 13, 2009
A woman looks at lamps and light fixtures at the new Humanity for Humanity Renovation Station. Photo by PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is looking for more land, and asking for donations to help pay for it.
"One of our highest priorities is to identify and acquire land … to develop at least two additional quality neighborhoods … around the Oklahoma City metro,” said Ann Felton, chairman and chief executive, in a recent letter to donors. Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry, works to provide affordable housing for limited-income families. New homes are built by volunteers who donate time, money and materials. Each completed home is sold to a qualifying family at no profit and at no interest. Construction began in 2007 on Habitat’s first full neighborhood development, Hope Crossing, at NE 83 and Kelley Avenue in northeast Oklahoma City. Eighty homes out of a planned 217 have already been built in Hope Crossing, where homes average 1,300 square feet and sell for approximately $85,000. Home building in Hope Crossing is scheduled to continue through 2012. Other projects undertaken by Central Oklahoma Habitat include 50 new homes and 15 renovations in Metro Park; a neighborhood of 61 homes in Spencer; 30 in Eastridge addition in north Midwest City, and others.
Investing in the future
Local builders have been active partners with Central Oklahoma Habitat, volunteering services and supplies in Hope Crossing and other projects.
Builders’ investment in Habitat homes is an investment in the future of the overall Central Oklahoma housing industry, said Jeff Click, president of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association.
"COHBA members are very interested in anything that promotes home ownership. Habitat for Humanity does that quite well,” Click said.
"They offer great products — low-cost, energy-efficient homes — that our builders strive to emulate in their other projects,” he said.
Felton said that individual contributions to Habitat are down right now, but expressed hope that the economic downturn might offer creative possibilities for potential donors.
"Lower land prices may create some partnership opportunities that were not previously viable,” Felton said in the fundraising letter.
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