News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters Habitat for Humanity has built 12 houses for families in the Sisters area since 1992. From selecting a Habitat family to turning the key in the lock of a new home, Sisters Habitat pulls together a wide range of volunteers to buy land, obtain building supplies and hammer nails.
Habitat for Humanity International, of which Sisters Habitat is an affiliate, is a Christian organization that builds houses for low-income people who live in substandard conditions.
To qualify for Habitat housing, a family must demonstrate need; the ability to pay a Habitat mortgage (average $350 in Sisters, including taxes and insurance); and a willingness to "partner" with the organization.
"That means attending Habitat events and working on your 'sweat equity' and basically being a public family," said Sisters Habitat director Sharlene Weed.
Once a family is selected by the chapter's selection committee, they are expected to put in 500 hours of labor, or "sweat equity," on the construction of their house. The chapter selects a volunteer to act as a "family partner" to help shepherd the new Habitat family through the long months of work on their new home.
Families pay back their mortgages through long-term payments at no interest and no profit to the organization.
"Payments are never over 21 percent of income, including taxes and insurance. That doesn't include utilities," Weed noted.
While some volunteers are busy selecting qualified families, others are out hunting for suitable sites for new homes.
"In the meantime, we're worrying about finding buildable lots," said Bob Sherman, who acts as the chapter's building supervisor. "That's becoming an enormous problem in the Sisters area."
Habitat's target cost for a project is $65,000. According to Sherman, it costs $40,000 to build a home, leaving $25,000 for land purchase. Lots in that price range are hard to find in the Sisters area, which has prompted the Sisters Habitat chapter to build its first duplex or "zero-lot-line" homes on Cowboy Place in Sisters.
More duplexes are in the works, Weed and Sherman noted, but Sisters Habitat may be forced to subsidize land purchases with more funds. That could mean fewer houses being built, according to Sherman.
Sisters Habitat has an ace in the hole when it comes to raising funds.
"The key thing we have is the Thrift Store that generates the revenue that allows us to go shopping," Sherman said.
Additional funds come from mortgage payments coming in from 10 Sisters families; from grants and from individual donations to the chapter.
Sisters Habitat often gets help on the other end of a transaction, as well.
"Realtors will traditionally give up their commission and the seller will sometimes discount," Sherman said.
Habitat homeowners and local designers have designed floorplans for homes and local building suppliers donate or discount building materials.
Habitat pays for work that requires skills or equipment that is beyond the capability of its volunteer force - work such as pouring foundations, electrical wiring, plumbing and drywall. According to Sherman, the pros often work at a discount.
Volunteers from all walks of life pitch in on framing and other construction activities and, according to Sherman, no one should feel intimidated about lending whatever skills they may have.
"We have people on site who can help and you can work with people who are experienced," Sherman said.
Sisters Habitat tries to time the construction work to take advantage of annual spring break "collegiate challenge" events where college students turn out in big numbers to work on Habitat for Humanity projects.
Students from Oregon State University, Lewis and Clark College and Santa Clara University have worked on homes in Sisters. Local restaurants and food providers supplied meals to the college work crews.
Families receive $1,000 in "options" money, which can be used for anything from adding decking and fencing to upgrading fixtures or buying an appliance.
Once work is completed, volunteers and family members gather to dedicate the home, reaffirming their partnership and celebrating the fulfillment of the dream of home ownership.
According to Weed, volunteers are always need to help schedule work parties and to bring refreshments to work crews as well as serving on construction crews.
For more information on Sisters Habitat for Humanity, call 549-1193. Applications for Habitat for Humanity homes may be picked up at the Habitat Thrift Store, 141 West Main Avenue in Sisters.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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