By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Greater Brewton Habitat for Humanity is taking a “leap of faith” by expanding its geographic area, but officials from the western end of the county said they are up for the challenge.
Habitat for Humanity builds homes for low-income families using donations, volunteer labor and “sweat equity” from new homeowners. The families purchase the homes at low-interest mortgages.
Habitat is nearing completion on its 15th house in the Brewton and East Brewton area, and now plans are under way to include the rest of the county in its geographic net. That means the chapter can accept land and homeowner applications from Flomaton, Atmore and the rest of Escambia County.
Habitat is expected to make a name change in the future to include Escambia County.
Shell pledged that volunteers from the Flomaton and Atmore areas will also be there for projects.
The need for Habitat is great, Shell said, noting that some areas of the county are still recovering from Hurricane Ivan and other storms in recent years.
And one of the advantages of the program is that “sweat equity” ensures that families take even greater ownership in their new homes.
Monday's banquet also celebrated a trip Habitat volunteers Rusty Miller and Terrence Breckenridge took to Paraguay over the summer.
The pair - who are building coordinators for Brewton Habitat and were named state Habitat volunteers of the year last spring - spent 18 days in South American on a building project there.
The banquet coincided with World Habitat Day.
Habitat for Humanity is also coordinating a trip to Costa Rica in February. Anyone interested in volunteering for that trip or any other Habitat projects can call the office at 867-0095.