By Laura Rusmisell
Weston-Buckhannon Board of REALTORS®
I started volunteering for Habitat for Humanity almost 20 years ago. I still sit on the board of Buckhannon River Habitat for Humanity and I’ve helped coordinate everything from festival Friday fundraiser setting up on Friday nights in jawbone Park in Buckhanon to answering calls fielding emails writing thank you serving as the president serving as the secretary. Also, just getting the word out about affordable housing and what a great thing Habitat is.
Buckhannon River Habitat for Humanity is the Upshur county chapter of #HabitatForHumanity . We are all volunteers. I’ve been on the board for many years helping try to keep us afloat as many other habitats in nearby counties have dissolved. We have a habitat in Wood County that are actual trained and paid people that know how to originate loans . They take the applications from people that try to get a home through us. The applicant has several different criteria to qualify; living somewhere that is very substandard living conditions, crowded conditions, or unaffordable rent. They must also meet credit guidelines. This is not a free house.
The home is completed with lots of planning, organization , volunteer labor mostly and the partner Family actually has to give 350 hours of sweat equity !
When we do a closing they pay an interest free mortgage. None of our house payments are over $400 ! This includes the escrow for taxes and insurance.
We’re always looking for board members, volunteers on the site, fundraising ideas, etc. We like to set up at the Festival Friday each Friday night and have different people man a booth.
The next build hasn’t started but it’s in the neighborhood Ambrose street.
I can email you a volunteer application or board member application. If you volunteer at the site, we ask you to sign a liability waiver. We have a confidentiality policy as well as many other rules we have to comply with.
If you can’t contribute in the above ways and you wish to make a monetary contribution we are a 501(c)3 non profit.
Address:
Buckhannon River Habitat For Humanity
56 South Kanawha Street, Suite 201
Buckhannon, WV 26201
