For almost all of her life, Margie Nelson never lived in a house.
In fact, Nelson, a cashier, and her partner, Mark Dowdy, who is unemployed, lived with their two sons, Samuel Dowdy, 14, and Michael Dowdy, 4, in a small mobile home in Athens.
In September, the family moved into their first house -
she said.
The house is one of three built by the Athens County Habitat for Humanity this year.
The not-for-profit organization moved its headquarters from The Plains to 525 W. Union St., an old mill office from the 1890s, in September. And Ann Charles Watts, an Ohio University graduate, became the new executive director in June.
I really like the work Habitat for Humanity does in Appalachia and nationally she said. I decided it would be a good place for me.
The goal for Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate substandard housing. But that is very difficult, especially in poor areas such as Athens County, Watts said. Habitat hopes to build five houses in 2004.
The need is so great she said. If our goal is to eliminate substandard housing
there is no way we can meet the need right now. It's really sad.
While Athens County Habitat for Humanity is the local affiliate for Habitat for Humanity International in Athens County, it does not build any houses. Only coalitions in the affiliate build the houses.
Dowdy and Nelson's house was built by the Women Raise the Roof coalition. The house took more than a year to build on weekends and some weekdays and was completed in June, co-chairwoman Carol Blue said.
Through fundraising and house building, about 150 all-women volunteers contributed, she said. The coalition plans to build a house next year and will host a wine tasting fundraiser for the project Nov. 14 at Toscano's restaurant.
A house usually costs $40,000-$50,000 to build, plus land and other expenses such as sewer lines, Watts said. Beneficiaries buy the home at no interest on the mortgage. But they also have to contribute sweat equity. Any person age 16 or older that will live in the house must contribute at least 250 hours to the house construction.
Nelson said the total cost for her house was about $80,000. She makes monthly payments of about $350 on it.
Volunteers say they get as much as they give from the experience.
It was an eye opener for me
Eli Mackiewicz, an OU senior and member of the OU coalition, said.
The OU coalition last built a house in 2001 -
'you have to come and see my new home
' she said. I'm real proud of it.
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