September 2003 Owners Update

Tuscarawas Valley Habitat For Humanity Organization Helps Former TMHA FSS
Family Become Homeowners

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization with the goal
to build decent simple houses in partnership with people in need who would
not be able to own a home through conventional means. Families who buy
Habitat homes are called "partner families" because they join with HFH to
build the home and complete "sweat equity" hours as part of their homeownership experience.

HFH houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with a no interest mortgage held by Habitat. HFH is able to keep the homes affordable through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials. The local Tuscarawas Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate is part of the larger international HFH organization which was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. To date, HFH International has built more than 80,000 homes around the world in more than 2,000 communities.

With the help of Habitat for Humanity Tuscarawas Valley, and an assist from
her participation in the TMHA FSS Program, Patty Stull and her two sons
Bruce and Curtis, now count themselves among the newest home owners in New Philadelphia.

Tuscarawas MHA Asst. Administrator Marty Chumney had a chance to catch up with Patty recently and conducted the following interview:

MC) What do you like best about owning your own home?
Patty) It‚s mine! There is pride that comes with ownership. I especially
like the control, as in not having to ask a landlord about making any
changes to the property. I can do as I please now.

MC) How do you feel about the Habitat for Humanity Program?
Patty) I feel that it is a very good program. However, my family was just
the second family selected by the Tuscarawas County chapter as it is a new
one. Obviously there is going to be some initial organizational problems
and growing pains. This chapter of Habitat is reliant on all volunteers to
make it work.

MC) Why do you think that your family was one of the first to be selected
by Habitat?
Patty) I think that we had a real need for more space compared to our
apartment and having the escrow funds from participating in the FSS program
gave us money for the downpayment.

MC) What were some of the requirements to participate in Habitat?
Patty) Our family was required to work 250 hours on the house. The kids
worked especially hard. We helped with the framing and drywall, painting
and my dad is an electrician and helped in that area. I was also allowed to
do some community service hours which I fulfilled by chaperoning at the
Lighthouse.

MC) What obstacles or challenges have you overcome in reaching your
homeownership goal?
Patty) I had to have back surgery back in February and that has really
limited what I can do physically. That also impacted my ability to work.

MC) What advice would you give other FSS families striving for homeownership?
Patty) Do your homework and don‚t be afraid to ask for help. I was referred
to both Habitat and the New Phila CHIP program which provided me
downpayment assistance funds to help me purchase the home by the housing
authority. Don't be afraid to ask for the assistance because services are
out there.

MC) Have you experienced anything negative about being a homeowner?
Patty) Not so far.

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