Habitat for Humanity seeks applicants

Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity is looking to expand its reach.

“We are accepting applications,” said Kathleen Munch, who is the director of development.

Munch hopes to raise awareness and educate the community about the program.

Marketing and Digital Communications Manager Denise Sanzo emphasized that Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity is not a handout, but a help out.

“We don’t give away homes, they earn the home with 400 hours of sweat equity,” she said. “They must also be able to pay a mortgage, utilities, taxes and any

other expenses any homeowner has.”

According to the annual report for fiscal year 20152016, Lake Geauga Habitat for Humanity built or rehabbed 87 homes.

It is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by building homes for families in Lake and Geauga counties.

The first step to getting approved for a home is to complete a pre-qualification application.

Applicants must answer three basic questions: Is

there a need for adequate shelter, do you have the ability to pay, and do you have time to take classes and help build?

Individuals or families also must meet income guidelines and live or work in Geauga or Lake County for two years before applying.

Once pre-approved, a more thorough application is required.

“Then, they are assigned a liaison,” Sanzo said. “We follow up with them, we walk them through it and then they go on to a committee. We set them up to succeed.”

The entire process takes about a year to complete.

“Usually, they get a noto low-interest mortgage

payment,” she said.

“So, we take away that burden. Now this family has a stability they never enjoyed before and a home, if they were in substandard, that they can be proud of because they worked on.”

In efforts to further assist families, financial management and home maintenance classes are offered.

“We do this because a lot of these families never owned a home, so they don’t know how to change that filter or how to clean those gutters,” Sanzo said. “We make sure they know the littlest things to the biggest things.”

For more information about applying, visit lakegeaugahabitat.org/own-ahome.

Habitat for Humanity volunteers play a major role in the success of the organization. They help with building homes, running the ReStore and serving on committees.

“We have a great volunteer base, but could always use more,” Sanzo said.

Volunteers who are 16 years of age and older are needed at worksites and ReStore locations.

Skilled and unskilled labor is welcomed. Volunteers will be trained and supervised by staff. Tools also will be provided.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact the volunteer coordinator at 440226-3000.