FRIARS POINT — Dorothy Jenkins, president of the Farrell-Sherard Habitat for Humanity, spoke to the Friars Point City Council during its Wednesday, Jan. 2 meeting about possibly getting a chapter in the community.
Jenkins said the Habitat for Humanity chapter has been around since 1994, but things have changed.
At one time, those who had homes built for them paid no interest.
“But now, you pay 10 percent, just borrowing the money or getting it back to you,” Jenkins said. “You have to pay interest now.”
She said interest cannot be charged to those who were in the program prior to the change.
Jenkins estimated it cost $1,500 a year to be under the umbrella of Habitat.
“There are rules and regulations that if you don’t keep up, you will not be in good standing with Habitat and they can disaffiliate you from there,” she said.
“We have not gotten disaffiliated yet, but there have been some affiliates that did get disaffiliated because they were not keeping up with what was going on.”
Every year, Jenkins said more and more people are being disaffiliated.
She said a real estate lawyer must be on the board and there are requirements for a certain amount of board members for a chapter, bylaws are set and both construction and family selection committees are required.
She added a construction supervisor must have so many hours in under the guidelines or the chapter is not in compliance. She said there should also be a steering committee and the financial status of people getting houses should also be looked at.
“You have to have a number of committees,” Jenkins said.
At one time, there was an income limit to be part of the program, but that is no longer the case.
“When we first got here, anybody that made about over $75,000 a year did not qualify for a Habitat house,” Jenkins said, adding others still qualify because they pay interest to repay loans.
Jenkins said the organization prefers homeowners take a second loan until a house is paid off so it is harder to sell or get rid of the home.
She said mayor James Washington, who could not be at the meeting due to illness, mentioned the possibility of merging the chapter with other communities.
Jenkins said Habitat for Humanity is a good organization, but acknowledged things have changed with the way it is run.
“Anything that won’t grow is going to die,” she said.
Jenkins said she could give names and numbers of people in Habitat for Humanity that council members would need to call to get involved. She said it was also important to have a grant writer.
“You’re going to have to weigh the pros and cons before you start out,” Jenkins said.
Aldermen are considering the possibility of starting a chapter in Friars Point.
“I also believe that, if we want something bad enough for the citizens of Friars Point, we’ll be willing to do some extra work to get it,” the Rev. Joe Sawyer said.
Alderman Ralph Scott is the mayor pro-tempore and ran the meeting in Washington’s absence.
“It was pretty good,” Scott said of the presentation. “It’s (starting a chapter in Friars Point) a possibility.”
Alderman Thomas Williams agreed.
“It was a very interesting presentation,” Williams said. “She spoke on some good things, so, hopefully, we could get it off the ground and get houses for the people of Friars Point.”
The council meeting recessed after the presentation and will resume at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14.
