Habitat needs local leader to proceed
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

A group hoping to build homes sideby side with El Campo's working poor needs one more major building block: a leader.

Rev. Keith Gibbons of First Christian Church in El Campo is a member of the steering committee working to establish West Wharton County Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that has built more than 225,000 houses around the world since the organization was founded in 1976.

"Habitat has been mentioned and talked about off and on for a number of years, but there's never been a Habitat group on this side of the river," Gibbons said. "There is a need for affordable quality housing, specifically for low income folks in El Campo.

Habitat is not a giveaway program.

"I think one of the biggest misunderstandings is that some people think we're giving homes away," Gibbons said. "We do not give homes away. We partner with a family to build a home. Habitat is not giving homes away, it's a helping ministry."

Through volunteer labor and donated money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) family.

Habitat houses are sold to the partner family at no profit and financed with affordable loans.

The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses and homeowners must invest hundreds of hours of their own labor - sweat equity - into building their house and the houses of others.

The Habitat organization in East Wharton County is in the process of building its third home. Although other groups through the years have worked to build homes for the less fortunate in El Campo, Gibbons said it's been tough going to get a Habitat chapter started up on this side of the river.

Lack of a champion for the group hasn't kept the steering committee from moving forward with the steps needed to found the local organization.

"It's been a slow process, but the core group is committed to see it happen. On a positive note, we're finishing up our needs and assessments paperwork to become an affiliate," Gibbons said.

"Then we'll get a formal board of directors and apply for nonprofit status and begin the process of applying for grants, raising money. After that, we'll be looking at sites and begin the process of screening and selecting a family for a home.

"However, we are not taking applications yet - we're a good six months to a year away from taking applications."

Gibbons hopes people will step up and take a look at the fledgling organization, and perhaps a leader will emerge from that process.

"Jump on board and help us. We need individuals from every aspect of our community," he said.

The Habitat steering committee meets again Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall of First Christian Church.

For more information, call Gibbons at 543-4790.