Habitat for Humanity house planned for South Foster Street
Habitat for Humanity of Richland and Crawford Counties, Inc. is going to be build a new house at 212 S. Foster St. for a single mother with an adult child who has special needs.
Habitat Director Veronna Drane said the nonprofit agency has received a $50,000 matching grant from the Black Family Foundation to build the one-story brick, ranch home.
"We were so excited and then COVID hit," she said. "We had raised the funds for this three-bedroom, 1½-bathroom house pre-COVID.
"We're super excited about it," she said.
Three lots were purchased for the house from the Richland County Land Bank.
Drane said that the grandmother lives a couple of blocks away in a Habitat house. Habitat is having trouble getting contractors but costs have gone up too. She said Park National Bank has given Habitat a generous donation toward the house.
"We are seeking these funds so we can help this family realize the dream of home ownership after a very long wait," she said while standing at the grassy site last week.
Donations are needed. Next, volunteers will be needed to work with contractors on the house.
Donations may be made by check, to Habitat for Humanity, 785 Lexington Ave., Suite 210, Mansfield, Ohio 44907 or go to the Habitat website at Habitatofrcc.org and click the donate button as well.
Drane said a second building project is on tap for another Habitat house for a family but that project can't be started until this house is finished.
People may call 419-524-8361 for appointments to fill out applications or applications can be downloaded from their website.
Habitat for Humanity works in more than 70 countries and has helped more than 39 million people improve their living conditions since 1976.
Habitat works together with families, local communities, volunteers and partners from around the world so that more people are able to live in affordable and safe homes. The nonprofit's advocacy efforts focus on policy reform to remove systemic barriers preventing low-income and historically underserved families from accessing adequate, affordable shelter, according to the Habitat website.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: A one-story brick ranch is planned for the site after funds are raised
