Work has stalled
on 17th home in
Marshall County

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

BENTON — “We give people a hand up, not a hand out.”
It’s the Habitat for Humanity Creed, and one Marshall County branch President Robert Strow spoke of with pride.

Since 1988, Strow has been involved in making Habitat for Humanity known in Marshall County. What began as a side project for the Maple Springs Methodist Church Men’s Group has grown into a community effort.

“They were looking for ways to reach out to the community beyond church walls, and one of their members had heard about the Paducah affiliate,” Strow said. “I’d been involved with Needline, and they got in touch with me. We did some reading and checking things out, and before you know it, an affiliate was born.”

The organization is an international volunteer effort, helping to provide safe, affordable homes all over the world, with the Paducah branch as the first in the state of Kentucky. The group has been responsible for building over 100,000 homes worldwide.

And very nearly all of the work is volunteer.

“We have to have licensed plumbers, electricians and Heating and Air technicians to comply with building codes,” Strow said. “However, we use as much volunteer work as possible. It’s a whole lot like an old-fashioned barn raising — it becomes a community effort.”

Strow questions how much people really know about the program, however.

“So many people don’t realize that Habitat for Humanity is not a government housing project,” Strow said. “The families we help pay for and work on their homes. We don’t give out anything but our time for free.”

Strow said the mission of Habitat is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for families that have difficulty financing mortgages through conventional means. Each family selected must contribute 350 hours in “sweat equity” -— manual labor on their own home or other Habitat homes in the making.

The homes are a modest 1,100 square feet on average, with generally three bedrooms, with one and half bathrooms.

“They’re nothing lavish,” Strow said. “However, we strive to make them an improvement to the area in which they are built.”

In addition to sweat equity, families are still required to pay for their homes over a 20 year period.

“We grant them a loan for the cost of building with no interest,” Strow said. “On top of that we tack on a $20,000 forgivable mortgage. For each year they remain in the home, $1,000 is forgiven. This keeps anyone from getting a home just to sell for profit. So, we’re not giving anything away but the opportunity to own a home affordably for those that otherwise wouldn’t have that chance.”

That chance may be in jeopardy, however, if the organization doesn’t round up more volunteers to head the board of directors.

“To run like we really need to, we need to have about 15 members,” Strow said. “Right now, we have less than five.”

Carol Fisher, member of the county’s Habitat for Humanity program said currently the treasurer’s seat is vacant, and on Jan. 31, the secretary’s position will be, as well.

“I’ve learned before that the secretary holds it all together,” Fisher said. “No matter what that may be.”

“It’s difficult with volunteer work to find time in our day-to-day schedules,” Strow said. “And with so few people to delegate all the responsibilities, it’s even harder.”

The lack of manpower has been evidenced in the organization’s latest project. For the last two years, construction on a home in Hardin has been virtually at a stand-still.

“We’d like to get this completed,” said Fisher. “The longer it sits unfinished, the more the cost of building materials increases.”

The home is the group’s 17th project in Marshall County and the fourth to undergo construction in Hardin. Calvert City has seen six homes built over the years, and seven in Benton.

“It’s a wonderful, rewarding program,” Strow said. “It’s a learning experience for everyone involved. You may come and learn how to shingle a roof or hang sheetrock — I can’t even begin to tell you all the different things I’ve learned how to do throughout the years.”

Habitat often gets support from local youth groups, as well. Strow said at least once a year a group from Christian Fellowship will come and work for a day.

“All it takes is for one person to come and find out just what we’re all about to have a multiplier effect,” Strow said. “And that’s what we’re hoping to rekindle here.”

The group is open to virtually all donations and hopes that volunteer time from members of the community will come among them.

Meetings take place on the second Monday of every month in the Marshall County Fiscal Courtroom at 5 p.m. All members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to attend.