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About Our Affiliate Our local organization was founded as an offshoot of a project, "Carpenters for Christ," of the First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg. In 1990 we became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. We completed our first house in 1992 in a covenant relationship with Crawford Street Methodist Church. We have completed 17 other houses since then. The organization is governed by four officers and a board of directors. WCHfH is presently an "almost" all-volunteer organization, excepting our paid Executive Director Abraham Green. Our program consists entirely of building or renovating homes with and for needy families. The organization also mentors families in their new roles as homeowners and taxpayers as long as needed. Monthly board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of every month at the Highway 61 Coffeehouse, and are open to the public (Hwy 61 Coffeehouse is located at 1101 Washington Street, next door to Lorelei Bookstore.) Please check with us prior to attending. Our schedule does occasionally change. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. How We Operate WCHfH buys building materials and contracts for professional services or receives them through donations. The organization relies heavily on money donations and volunteer labor, but also contracts with building professionals when necessary. All WCHfH building lots have been donated by individuals or the City of Vicksburg. Once a home is completed, it is dedicated in a formal ceremony and the house is deeded to the new homeowner. In exchange, the organization receives a mortgage, the amount of which is set at a level to recover the cost of materials and services used in construction. The mortgage loan carries zero interest. To date, houses have ranged in cost from $28,000 to $45,000. Fair Market Rent in Warren County for a two-bedroom apartment is about $550/month. All present WCHfH built homes have monthly notes below $300/month. Part of this payment is escrowed for taxes and insurance; part goes to pay down our long-term construction loans; and the remainder goes to build new houses. Since 1992 WCHfH has worked with families, businesses, churches, and other volunteers to complete 18 homes in Vicksburg. Our financial support comes from individuals, faith, business and civic organizations, and other private well-wishers within the Vicksburg/Warren-County community. We have been fortunate to receive continuing support from generous individuals who donate through the Combined Federal Campaign. |