Sisters Habitat seeks more families

Sisters Habitat for Humanity is looking for more qualified families to apply for Habitat housing.

According to Executive Director Sharlene Weed, three families are currently working on their homes - what Habitat calls "doing sweat equity." Two families will be buying homes next spring.

"The plan is to start another townhouse, say June, July, and we have just one family for that townhouse," Weed said.

"We're not getting as many applications and we're getting applications where the families don't qualify, mostly for credit reasons," Weed said.

Contrary to rumor, Sisters Habitat for Humanity has not foreclosed on any homes.

"As of today, we have no one we're looking to foreclose on at all," Weed said. "All our accounts I would say are current or very close to current."

Sharon Thorkildson, who tracks payments for the Sisters chapter, reported that Sisters Habitat for Humanity carries 30 mortgages. In August, 29 were paid on time; one was a week late. For September, three payments were late.

"We don't have anybody in an extreme situation at all," Thorkildson said.

Weed noted that one family has filed for bankruptcy, but they are current on their payments. Two people in Habitat homes recently lost their jobs, but they, too, are current.

That tracks with the national trend. According to Weed, the national Habitat for Humanity statistics show a foreclosure rate well under one percent.

"It's no different because of the economy," Weed said.

The tough economy may be a factor in the decline of applications, however. Weed and other Habitat staff believe that many families are unsure whether they can make a go of it in Sisters, given an uncertain job market.

Weed also thinks that some people assume that they can't qualify and don't try.

"I think there's families out there that qualify that don't think they do," she said. "I think there is a demand, but there's a lack of awareness. I don't think we've solved the affordable housing issue in Sisters."

For more information on applying for a Habitat for Humanity home, call 549-1193.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

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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