Volunteers for River City Habitat for Humanity worked hard to complete the organization's 105th house before Christmas so a local family could be home for the holidays.
Habitat held an open house and dedication ceremony Wednesday evening for the latest Habitat homeowner, Crystal Glaze, a 27-year-old single mother of two children, a 5-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy.
Their new home is in the 700 block of Maple Street.
"It was tough," said Glaze, who graduated from college this month. "There were a lot of sacrifices to get where I am today."
Glaze has lived in Jefferson City since 1996 and said having a new home is the best Christmas present she could have hoped for.
"I learned a lot during the build," Glaze said. "I did everything from drywalling to putting in insulation, and I was surprised that I was able to get it done. It pretty much showed me that I could fix about anything that comes up."
"Seeing a family earn the keys to their new home is always a blessing," River City Habitat Executive Director Susan Cook-Williams said. "But seeing a family purchase their Habitat home right before Christmas is extra special. The hard-working volunteers who made this build possible are excited to know that this family will wake up on Christmas morning in their own home."
This build was a service project made possible through materials and labor provided by Thrivent Financial, Capitol MO Thrivent Chapter and local Lutheran congregations. Cook-Williams said these faith organizations share Habitat's goal of helping people with low-incomes secure homeownership.
Called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, the alliance is a multi-year, $125 million commitment by Thrivent Financial that has funded 6 percent of all Habitat for Humanity homes built since 2005. Thrivent has partnered with River City Habitat for Humanity for 12 years and helped build 12 houses locally.
Cook-Williams said the process for families to become a Habitat homeowner begins by filling out an interest form. Then, generally twice a year, River City holds a "Habitat Basics Class" for anyone interested in becoming a homeowner to learn the qualifications for the program and how to apply. Qualifications are based on need, ability to pay and willingness to partner. Applicants also must pass a background and credit check.
Members of River City's family selection committee perform home visits to verify applicants' need for housing. If approved by the committee, applicants must also get River City board approval.
Once they enter the Habitat program, families must work 20 hours a month earning "sweat equity." By the time River City sells them the home, families must have completed 350 hours (for one individual on the deed) or 450 hours (for a couple). They must also attend monthly classes on how to become a homeowner and save for their closing costs.
The money paid by Habitat homeowners goes toward building more homes.
River City will start accepting applications in January for the next round of Habitat homeowners. For more information, call 573-635-8439 or visit rivercityhabitat.org