A family of six got the keys to their new River City Habitat for Humanity home Wednesday, and Habitat's executive director said the organization is also working to respond to the housing needs created by last week's tornado.
The home on Montana Street was sold Wednesday night and turned over to Bessie Muse, Henry Shelton and their four children is the 109th home sold by River City Habitat, the organization's executive director Susan Cook-Williams said earlier in the day.
Future Habitat homeowners invest hundreds of hours of labor - "sweat equity" - alongside staff and volunteers to help build their own homes, and when construction is complete, they make no-interest mortgage payments over 25 years that are recycled back into the Habitat program to build more homes for more families.
Out of the 109 homes, Cook-Williams estimated probably a dozen had some form of damage after last week's EF-3 tornado that hit Jefferson City, but none were damaged severely enough that people had to move out or vacate the properties.
As examples, Cook-Williams said one resident lost part of their roof and their air conditioner, while another had their retaining wall destroyed.
She said the organization is "amping up efforts" for home repair projects, and is starting up a home repairs committee that will take applications from income-qualified people who may need help repairing their home after last week's storm.
Cook-Williams said River City Habitat is also looking at how to increase its construction of new homes over the next year or two.
She said in a normal year, four or five homes are built, and the plans before the tornado were to sell three more homes this summer and start four more builds later this year.
"Being able to get those homes done is important," she said.
She added Habitat for Humanity International has connected their office with others, including in Joplin, to learn how best to proceed after a disaster such as last week's.
Cook-Williams said the advice the local chapter is getting is to focus on long-term recovery and how to build more homes.
"We have offers coming from around the state and country" of people wanting to help build, she said.
She said people interested in volunteering or in need of assistance should call the River City Habitat office for more information, at 573-635-8439.
On Montana Street, Bessie Muse said "it's been an adventure for us" in getting the keys to their new home.
There were times she wanted to give up, she said, but she felt blessed and added "I can't wait to move in."
The family put more than 450 sweat equity hours into working on their home, according to a news release from River City Habitat.
Muse said her favorite parts of the new home are the master bedroom and the backyard.
Muse and Shelton thanked higher powers, in addition to all the people involved.
"God is good all the time," and their new home would not be possible without him, Shelton said.