By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
news@joplinglobe.com
JOPLIN, Mo. —
As Jennifer Nelson found a spot between a dozen volunteers helping to raise the south wall of her new home, she turned to her husband, Chris, and grinned.
“It’s a good feeling to be able to help build your own home,” said Chris Nelson a few moments later over the sounds of hammers beginning to nail the braces into place.
The family, which includes daughters Madison, 14, and Faith, 4, lost its rental home at 2332 Missouri Ave., near Joplin High School, in the May 22 tornado.
That home was among 4,000 homes destroyed, with another 3,500 damaged.
The Nelsons are the most recent family to be helped by Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity, which conducted a wall raising ceremony at the new home under way at 902 Central St.
10 MORE HOMES
Officials announced during the ceremony that the organization will amp up efforts this spring by building 10 additional homes in Joplin.
It would not be possible, said Executive Director Scott Clayton, without the partnership of churches under a concept called Building on Faith. Congregation members who volunteer must have no previous construction experience, he said.
The church volunteering on this project is College Heights Christian Church.
Participating families must meet three qualifications: They must exhibit a level of need for better housing, a willingness to partner by putting in “sweat equity” hours, and meet income guidelines.
“One of the things we did after the tornado is expand our income guidelines to serve a broader base of the population,” Clayton said.
The Nelsons will hold a 20-year mortgage on the home with no interest. “We had found a rental close to Chris’ work, but the bills are hard to swallow,” Jennifer Nelson said. “We knew we couldn’t stay where we were staying because it was way too expensive.”
The family tried to get a traditional home loan, but didn’t qualify. Jennifer Nelson is attending school at Missouri Southern State University studying to become a teacher and has no income.
“My mom told me about Habitat for Humanity, and said I should apply,” she said. They did so in August, and by September received word they’d been accepted.
“I screamed and cried!” said Jennifer Nelson of her reaction when she received the phone call of acceptance. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to get a house.’”
Clayton said that, as with any Habitat home, it’s a house that’s worked for, not given. The Nelson family has donated time by working at Habitat’s Joplin Area ReStore, 315 S. Black Cat Road, and their friends donated hours to the Ten for Joplin build in November in the Nelsons’ name.
Funding for their home came from the Heart of Missouri United Way’s Relief Fund, and labor is being provided by volunteers from College Heights Christian Church.
“I just want to thank everybody who has volunteered their time,” said Jennifer Nelson at the conclusion of the ceremony. “I understand you have families and you have lives and you are taking time away from your families and lives to help my family, and that means so much to us.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Clayton said Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity has selected the next 10 families for the organization’s spring builds.
He will meet with those families next week for an orientation, then will announce the names after details are complete.
“We’re going to be building a lot more than we’ve ever done before,” said Clayton of the coming months. “We’re blessed to be where we’re at with all the partners and organizers. They know the level of need is high, and we’re going to be escalating what we’re doing here to try to meet that need.”
Churches involved in the spring construction projects include College Heights Christian Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Christ’s Church of Oronogo.
“The key is churches being involved,” said Clayton of the project’s future success. “It’s all part of a giving community who wants to come, who wants to build, who wants to be part of Habitat.”
Other houses
Habitat also is nearing completion on several homes in the Joplin area, including one in Carl Junction being built in conjunction with the high school’s building and trades class, one in Webb City, and two in Joplin.
