HAMLET — Habitat for Humanity of the N.C. Sandhills is looking for volunteers to help with a special Thanksgiving week build day.
Habitat has scheduled an additional work day for Monday, Nov. 22 at the home the organization is building on Rosemont Avenue in the Briarwood neighborhood, according to Executive Director Amie Fraley.
The home is in the final stages of construction and the workload for that day will comprise interior framing, or blocking, including for cabinets and closets.
Construction started on the home back in September and it was one of the main projects for the United Way of Richmond County’s 12th annual Day of Caring.
“The more people that help out, the faster it goes,” Fraley said.
She previously told the RO that volunteers help Habitat to keep construction costs down and allow the organization to serve more families, adding that each volunteer hour is estimated at $25.
Fraley said Habitat expects to dedicate the home in the early spring of 2022.
Habitat homeowners don’t get their houses for free, but rather purchase them through a “guaranteed affordable mortgage.”
To qualify for the program, potential homeowners have to be between 30-60% of the county’s median income and a debt-to-income ratio lower than 43%, according to Fraley.
They also have to take monthly classes to learn how to be a homeowner and put in 300 hours of “sweat equity.”
Habitat has sold two homes — one in Rockingham, the other in Hamlet — and has provided “critical repairs” — repairs exceeding $5,000 and addressing “a dire safety need for the homeowner” — in Richmond County within the past year, according to Fraley.
In recent years, Habitat has had more than 20 home repair projects in Dobbins Heights alone.
That repair work, Fraley said Wednesday, is continuing throughout the county.
The service area for the local Habitat organization includes Richmond, Moore and Hoke counties.
Habitat received more than 60 applications for new homes from the region and soon will select two future homeowners in Richmond County, with builds taking place over the next year and a half.
To help out, contact volunteers@sandhillshabitat.org or visit sandhillshabitat.org to sign up.
