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After a devastating tornado ripped through Joplin in May it became instantly clear that the city would be facing an enormous rebuilding effort. Luckily, two Habitat for Humanity teams are stepping in to take one of the most aggressive rebuilding efforts yet. KSMU’s Justin Lux spoke with the directors of the programs and has details.
When the EF-5 tornado destroyed nearly 7,500 homes, things looked bleak. Almost 43% of those homes were uninsured, leaving many families homeless.
But in an effort to jump start the rebuilding effort, Paul Kent and the Tulsa Habitat for Humanity approached Joplin’s Habitat program with an idea.
“This thing that Habitat for Humanity is doing this is a response to a disaster, but it’s really about helping people to start life over and we hope that by doing this it’s going to be the catalyst for other organizations to say, ‘We want to come in and do something very similar to this.’” Kent says.
With the help of the Habitat programs and surrounding businesses, the Ten for Joplin project plans to build ten homes for low-income families during a 16-day period that will begin October 29th.
The Joplin Area Habitat team announced Monday that it had received two additional house sponsors, but were still looking for nearly $300,000 and 3,000 volunteers to make the project a reality.
With so many families in need of housing, Scott Clayton and Joplin Habitat for Humanity have had to introduce a strict set of guidelines.
“There has to be a situation where they need better housing. Number two, there is the willingness to partner by doing sweat equity hours and also thirdly, income guidelines. We reasonably expanded the income guideline to include more, but it can’t be so little that you can’t afford the monthly payment, but not so much that you don’t need the help,” explained Clayton.
The monthly payments work a bit like a no-interest mortgage and the funds will be used to build more Habitat homes in Joplin.
Kent says the great thing about Habitat programs like this is you’re able to see something you’ve had a hands-on experience in making happen.
“You get to watch a family who’s going to live their 10, 15, 20 years and you get to watch the kids grow-up and the families grow. There’s nothing better than seeing the smiling faces of kids who now have their own home to be able to grown up in,” he says.
The project aims to raise $800,000. Any monetary donations made will be earmarked specifically for the Ten for Joplin project.
Those looking to donate their time or money can visit the website tenforjoplin.com to learn more information.
For KSMU News, I’m Justin Lux.