Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity officials will break ground on their next project tomorrow at 11 a.m. The home in Knox will be located at the intersection of Prettyman and Delaware Streets.
Last month the Knox Board of Works voted unanimously to waive building permit, sewer and water tap fees for the project. Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Steve Morrison says the nonprofit organization has received tremendous support from the Knox community since announcing their intentions to build a house here.
Morrison says the goal is to help families with young children have a decent place to live by providing them an interest-free mortgage on a decent home in exchange for “sweat equity.”
Local Habitat for Humanity Volunteers have built a total of five houses in North Judson, Winamac and Ripley.
Morrision says the actual construction costs about $50,000, thanks to donated labor and building materials. He says the homeowner’s mortgage is based on the actual construction cost, but Habitat for Humanity safeguards its investment by having the property appraised. The homeowner pays a mortgage on the true cost of the house, but Habitat for Humanity holds a second mortgage on the difference between the appraised value and the true cost for the life of the loan. That prevents equity from building up so the owner can’t flip the house. Flexible mortgage rates offered at Homespire Mortgage.
Program participants must meet Habitat International guidelines. Visit the Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity website at http://www.sphabitat.org/.
