The Habitat for Humanity (HFH) chapter serving Gilmer and Fannin County and one new homeowner are celebrating a milestone — breaking ground on the first Habitat home to be built in this county in at least 20 years.
Habitat for Humanity of Fannin/Gilmer County announced earlier this year that a home will be built on a lot on Roberts Ridge Road, which was donated by local resident Mitzi Miller.
Since then, Fannin/Gilmer HFH has been looking for a prospective owner who meets the organization’s numerous qualifications for the program.
It was announced earlier this month that Isha Davis, a Gilmer resident since 2009, has been selected as that homeowner.
A statement from Fannin/Gilmer HFH said, “the deserving homeowner is an employee of the Gilmer County Charter School System and a single mom of two children. This home will provide a safe and affordable place for their family to call home. As always, this family had to qualify with good credit and to commit to working hundreds of hours on their home, as well as to pay an affordable mortgage on the home.”
The total 250 hours of service-related work required of HFH homeowners includes 100 hours of physical labor in assisting with the home construction and 100 hours of volunteering with community organizations, as well as other requirements including taking educational homebuyer education courses.
An official groundbreaking for the forthcoming home was recently held, at which Davis was presented with site plans for the home.
Karleen Ferguson, vice president of the Fannin/Gilmer HFH board of directors, said it will be a single story three-bedroom, two-bath home. Grading and site preparation began at the site earlier this year.
“We are so grateful for the support of our community,” said Ferguson. “It’s been far too long since we built a Habitat home in Gilmer County, and we couldn’t do this work without the help of our financial supporters, volunteers, local businesses and community partners.”
Team members are hoping to start the homebuild just after the new year. The construction is expected to take around 10 months, noted Ferguson.
“We are pricing the foundation right now and hope to start putting up walls in January,” she said.
The property on which the home will be built includes another 1-acre lot, which was also donated to Gilmer-Fannin HFH. Another Habitat home will be built there, and the prospective homeowner application process will start shortly after the first home has been finished, noted Ferguson.
“We need more volunteers to help build (the first) home, as well as local business partnerships to help us keep this home as affordable as possible. The less money we spend on the (construction), the more homes we can build,” she added.
Anyone interested in volunteering or getting involved with the upcoming homebuilding can find out more or sign up at HFHFanninGilmer.org.