When it comes to home ownership, the major concern for Lisa Taylor is now interior decorating.
Taylor has a home of her own after she was given the keys Saturday during a Habitat for Humanity dedication ceremony on Fair Street. It marks the 27th Habitat for Humanity home built in Warren County.
Taylor had a smile on her face and said she had been studying the floor plan to determine the best way to arrange her furniture. She will be living in the home with daughters Amber and Kaitlyn Thaxton.
“Habitat brings together a coalition of volunteers that’s unprecedented,” said Habitat for Humanity representative Todd Herzog. “I know there were high school football and basketball players who helped work on this project, as well as some students in JROTC. It takes a number of people in the community all working together to get this done.”
Taylor herself devoted much time working on the home and spent time painting during the final work day. Habitat homes are not free.
Much of the labor is donated, but the homeowner still must pay for materials. Herzog said the typical Habitat mortgage is between $300 and $325 a month, which includes property taxes and insurance.
Herzog said Habitat homeowners in Warren County have met their financial obligations. He said 26 of the 27 local Habitat homes are currently in good standing with Habitat only having to take back one of the houses.
McMinnville Mayor Jimmy Haley, a Habitat supporter and volunteer, said projects like these teach children the value of helping others.
“A lot of kids don’t understand service anymore,” said Haley. “They think everything results in a paycheck. We have a responsibility as citizens and as humans to give back and this is one of those things. You can see the results from the ground up to the point where the owners are getting to move in.”
Sites are under consideration for the 28th Habitat home in Warren County. Haley said the city is currently in legal negotiations concerning several dilapidated properties around town. He said one of those sites could be cleared and used to construct the next Habitat home.
“There are several homes in the city that have been abandoned for years that don’t meet codes and would cost way too much to rehab,” said Haley. “There are several of those in the legal process that could be future Habitat sites.”