Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina (HHNC) has begun an ambitious project designed to help first-time homeowners. Habitat is a non-governmental, nonprofit organization devoted to building simple decent and affordable housing as a way to address poverty housing around the United States.

In 2015, the SECU Foundation and HHNC agreed to begin a joint initiative to expand affordable housing across the state called SECU Habitat “Mountains to the Sea Challenge”. The SECU Foundation is the charitable and developmental arm of the State Employees Credit Union. The challenge will provide an investment of $10 million over a three-year period for HHNC to build one new home in each of the states 100 counties.

Local Habitat Offices are called affiliates, and since there is no such office in Gates County, Hertford County Habitat has volunteered to mentor the construction of the first home in Gates County.

Hertford County Habitat for Humanity, a Christian organization, builds quality affordable homes, creates strong communities and changes lives by partnering with committed volunteers, professional staff and eligible families living in inadequate housing.

These homes are sold to a qualified family at no profit and financed with a no-interest loan. The average monthly house payment is approximately $200 to $400, with tax and insurance included. One of the requirements of the approved applicants is that they assist in the building of their home.

Hertford Habitat is currently seeking a qualified family in Gates County to partner with Habitat in building them a new home.

If you qualify, you could partner with Habitat to build a brand new, quality home with a small down payment and an interest-free mortgage.

Some of the requirements to qualify for a Habitat home are:

Residency: Must have worked or lived in Gates County for the past 12 months and be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident;

Your need….you must be currently living in inadequate housing; and

Your ability…You must have a steady source of income, be able to demonstrate financial responsibility, and willing to invest a minimum of 400 hours of sweat equity.

Hertford County Habitat is currently looking for qualified applicants, donations, (donations to Habitat are tax deductible), volunteers and suitable land to build on in Gates County.

To obtain full details and an application, write to: Hertford County Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 695, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 or call 252-396-0696.