Holloman Chapel teams up with Habitat for Humanity

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Veronica Salgado
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 49th Fighter Wing recently teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to make sure this holiday season at least one family would have a place to call home.

According to Ms. Kathy Daviess, wife of Habitat for Humanity board president, Norman Daviess, Habitat for Humanity teams up with volunteers from the local area to help build homes for low income families.

"It gives families who wouldn't otherwise afford a home, a chance to boost them onto the first rung of the economic later," said Ms. Daviess.

Mr. and Ms. Daviess have worked with Habitat for Humanity for more than eight years. Their goal is to have a house ready for move-in by Christmas.

The three bedroom house under construction will house the Duran family of six. Fego and Lizbeth Duran, along with their four children, were volunteers for other homes before they were selected by Habitat for Humanity to have their own home built.

"It's not a give-away," said Mr. Daviess. "There are three criterias a family must meet. First, families must have evidence of low income, second, they must have a need for a decent place to live and they must also be willing to help build their home with at least 300 hours of labor."

According to Mr. Daviess, these families are given 30 years to pay off their mortgage with payments as low as $300-400 a month making this home cheaper than an apartment or renting a home. Fundraising and volunteers are what increases the chances for many more families to afford homes like this.

The house will cost an average of $60-70,000 with zero interest.

Capt. Mathew Glaros, 49th Fighter Wing Chaplain, attended the groundbreaking ceremony and provided the invocation of the soon-to-be-built house.

"We're building on faith and the Lord will provide," he said, of the Habitat project.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that is funded by the support of Otero County. Sponsorship and donations are available for organizations who would like take part in building homes for the families that are selected.

For more information contact the Otero County Habitat office at 575-437-6562.