Habitat project under way on East Boone Avenue

Ground has been broken for the newest Habitat for Humanity home in Spokane with help from a grant by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the area Lutheran community.

The nonprofit group will contribute $168,441 for the triplex on the 1600 block of East Boone Avenue, which is roughly 65 percent of the total cost. Remaining funds include 10 percent from area Lutheran communities and 25 percent from the general public.

Thrivent has committed $105 million nationwide for the construction of Habitat Homes over the next five years.

Three families will move into the triplex when it is completed.

To qualify for a Habitat home, potential families must live in inadequate housing and have an income of 25 to 50 percent of a community’s median income.

That’s a very low income, based on HUD definitions, according to Courtney Susemiehl, development director of Habitat for Humanity Spokane. A family of five living within these guidelines has an income between $14,750 and $29,500, she said.

Recipients must also provide $1,500 in closing costs and 500 hours of what Habitat calls “sweat-equity” hours. A family can fulfill its sweat-equity obligation by working on the home, in the Habitat Spokane Builders Surplus Store or in other Habitat homes. Family members must be at least 14 years old to provide sweat equity hours.

Finally, the family must be able to make a low, monthly mortgage payment with no interest.

Susemiehl said that the average cost of building a Habitat home, including the land is around $80,000 and is paid for through donations and proceeds from the Habitat store. Homes are built by volunteers.

There are three construction supervisors who train the volunteers and make sure there are enough materials at each job site. Each home takes around 1,300 volunteer hours to build.

“We would not be able to build without our volunteers,” Susemiehl said.

Volunteers from around the country have come to build the homes on East Boone Avenue. Students from the University of Minnesota and the Archer School for Girls in Brentwood, Calif., have spent their spring vacations at the site on Boone, and students from area colleges also are expected to soon lend a hand.

There are currently 14 homes under construction for Habitat of Spokane.

Susemiehl said families that benefit from Habitat homes share a common bond of pride in home ownership. They plant flowers in their yards and take efforts to make the neighborhood feel welcoming.

“They’ve worked so hard in building their home,” she said. “They take such care.”

She said that the Candler, Casiadi and Le families will soon experience this for themselves.

The Candlers, Lillie and her 14-year-old son, Timothy, now live in a one-bedroom triplex with a hole in the bathroom floor, a broken heater and a stove that doesn’t work very well. They also share a bedroom.

Lillie is putting in her sweat equity hours at the Habitat office and is excited to be able to have her own backyard.

The Casiadis – Gheorghe and Raisa – moved to America from Moldova in 2003 with their three children, Pavel, Andrei and Nadezhda.

Right now their rent is too high for their income, but they are looking forward to teaching their children responsibility through home ownership. They are planning to do their own gardening and are enjoying learning about the construction of their new home.

The Les – Mike and his wife, Phuong – have four children, Boon, Roon, Charlie and Maria. They all live in a two-bedroom apartment with steep, narrow steps and a mold problem.

The Les look forward to having some personal space in their new home and are learning skills to keep it maintained once it’s finished.

Susemiehl said that Habitat is always looking for volunteers to help build these houses. Volunteers work Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a half an hour break for lunch.

Anyone wishing to volunteer at one of the Habitat homes should call 534-2552, ext. 21.