Habitat for Humanity is doing things a little differently these days due to COVID-19. Despite working with a limited number of volunteers and staff, projects being delayed, and extra precautions being taken, the agency is continuing to build houses for those in need.
Habitat for Humanity will hold its first-ever drive-by groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. today for a new home that will be built at 455 Sutton Lane.
The project was funded through collaborative efforts between Crosspointe Baptist Church and the Kentucky Housing Corporation.
It will mark the 143rd home built by Owensboro’s Habitat for Humanity.
“Crosspointe has been wanting to sponsor a house for several years, and they’ve raised all this money,” said Habitat’s Executive Director Virginia Braswell. “This house includes a Kentucky Housing Corporation grant for $30,000. I told [the Rev. Farrell Isenberg], ‘If you come up with $30,000, we will let you all sponsor it.’”
Isenberg’s congregation came up with the money through what Braswell called a “wonderful” program called “A Day’s Pay in May,” which challenges everyone in the church to donate one day’s pay to a specific project.
The two-bedroom house will go to Sherri Adams.
Adams’ house will be the first built on a lot located at the corner of 5th Street and Cravens Avenue. The lot is big enough for five homes, Braswell said.
Sunday’s groundbreaking won’t be customary, but it will still be very special for the members of Crosspointe Baptist, Braswell said. Members of the church will celebrate the groundbreaking by driving by the site in their vehicles and making signs to hold out the windows.
It takes around four months to complete a Habitat for Humanity home, but because of the restrictions faced by the agency, Braswell is shooting for an early fall closing date.
“It depends on the virus and the weather,” she said. “We’ll be doing it with fewer people — around two to four at a time, instead of having a big group out there.”
Habitat for Humanity is also finishing up its 142nd home, located on Hathaway Street. The project was delayed for several months because of the coronavirus spread, but a team of volunteers has slowly started it back up.
Braswell is hoping to close on that house by early June.
“We’re going to make it all happen,” Braswell said.
