Carter Families Home for the Holidays

Since September, all ten 2008 Carter Project Families from Hancock County, MS have been living in their homes. “Our families have completed their Habitat homeownership requirements, purchased their homes, and are moving ahead with their lives,” said Wendy McDonald, Executive Director for HFH Bay-Waveland. “We’re delighted to be a part of this new chapter in their lives.” The Bay-Waveland affiliate of Habitat for Humanity participated in the 2008 Carter Work Project, which was held May 11-16 throughout the Katrina affected Gulf Coast, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

During the week-long project, three hundred volunteers built 10 homes in the Holiday Village area of Diamondhead, Mississippi. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter thrilled participants with an end-of-week visit to congratulate homeowners and encourage volunteers.

On average, it takes about four months before families can occupy their homes. During this time, families complete their sweat equity requirements and finish their home ownership training and budget counseling sessions. Finishing touches and final inspections are also completed during this time, along with the final paperwork for things like mortgage assistance grants, which help keep the homes affordable.

While average closing costs are $3,000, HFH Bay-Waveland rolls these expenses into the family’s zero interest mortgage. The total cash required at closing is $250. “We’ve found that this approach helps our families move quickly out of their trailers, apartments, or other post-Katrina temporary housing into their permanent home,” says McDonald. “If they have extra money, they can save it, use it for utility deposits, or use some of it to replace the furniture they lost in the storm.”

The first Carter Project families in Hancock County began moving into their homes inJuly. By early September, all the families had occupied their homes.