Businesses jump aboard buildilng plan for Habitat subdivision

Vickie Hoffman and her three children have a new home, thanks to a local real estate agency. They are just one of several families that have become homeowners through Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, which plans to build a total of six new homes this year with the support of area businesses.

The Hoffmans' new home, built by Carol Jones Realtors and the Southwest Missouri State University Habitat chapter, is in the McAL subdivision in northwest Springfield.

The Greater Springfield Board of Realtors, Home Builders Association and Bank of American also are building homes for the subdivision.

Jim Bolin, general manager of Carol Jones Realtors, said the idea of the company building a Habitat home was tossed about two years ago, but the project didn't become reality until this year. The company also is helping with the Board of Realtors build. Once Carol Jones Realtors made the decision to do a Habitat project of its own, Bolin didn't waste any time.

Carol Jones Realtors solicited materials and labor from Springfield businesses and fully funded the Habitat house. The SMSU Campus Habitat chapter volunteers provided labor for building the house, and it was completed in just three weeks.

"(Carol Jones Realtors) gives to the community in a lot of ways, but we don't typically do a huge project," Bolin said. "This is an opportunity for us to give something that's really lasting, and there's a real need for it."

More on the way

The Greater Springfield Board of Realtors will build a home in August at the Price Cutter Charity Championship Golf Tournament at Highland Springs Country Club. The six-day build will take place Aug. 8-13 at the entrance to Highland Springs. After completion, the house will be moved across town to its permanent location in the McAL subdivision.

Bob Fitzgerald, owner of Fitzgerald First Realty and president of the Board of Realtors, said the group chose to build at the tournament, which is more costly, to raise awareness about Habitat for Humanity.

"It's an opportunity for people to see a Habitat house," he said. The board plans to offer tours of the home and talk with anyone who stops by about how Habitat works and how they can get involved with the program.

Homes built through Habitat for Humanity aren't given to people for free even though the sponsor raises cash donations and in-kind donations to build the houses. Those who are selected to be homeowners must agree to repay a zero-interest mortgage in the amount it cost to build the home. That money is then used by Habitat for Humanity to build more houses in the community.

Shortly before Fitzgerald became president of the Board of Realtors last year, Donna J. Jones, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, spoke to Fitzgerald's Rotary Club. He decided then that the Realtor community should get involved.

Jones spoke to the group about a program through Habitat for Humanity International called "21st Century Challenge," which aims to eliminate substandard housing throughout the world in the 21st century.

"It touched my heart to hear her talk about the need that was there for folks who had not owned a home and couldn't own a home or didn't feel they could own a home," he said.

"It seemed like a lofty goal," Fitzgerald said, "but any goal starts one step at a time. It hit me (that) this would be the next step forward to help eradicate homelessness, at least in Springfield."

Several businesses besides Realtors are involved in the Board of Realtor's project, Fitzgerald said. Suppliers of labor and suppliers of materials are offering their services to build the home.

He hopes the high-profile build will get more businesses involved in the future. "Maybe there will be some other businesses that will step up to the plate to build a home themselves," he said.

The Home Builders Association also is building a Habitat house this year in the McAL subdivision. It is expected to be featured in the HBA's Parade of Homes in June, Jones said. The house will have energy-efficient windows, an insulated concrete frame constructed of Styrofoam blocks filled with reinforced concrete and steel, and roof trusses that are able to hold more insulation.

While the home will cost more to build, the added energy efficiency features should reduce expenses for the homeowner. The SMSU construction management department will monitor the house to determine if the added features are cost effective.

Bank of America also is building a house in the McAL subdivision this year, part of a five-year building drive for Habitat for Humanity. The company has donated $55,000 to build the house, and construction began April 26. Bank of America began the McColl Habitat Project in December 2002, a building drive the company said will produce 120 new Habitat homes across the country.

Business involvement

More businesses and their employees are beginning to get involved in the building of Habitat homes. When Jones first became head of Habitat for Humanity of Springfield in 1997, 40 to 60 percent of Habitat home sponsorships were churches. After a couple of years, she said, more businesses became involved.

Due to the economy, churches have cut back on their involvement, creating the need for more businesses to get involved in the program. Three churches that had planned to build Habitat homes had to pull back this year, Jones said.

"We've just started to tap into the building and housing industry," Jones said.

Individual real estate agencies in the community have expressed interest in building Habitat homes, Jones said, and she encouraged them to help with the Board of Realtor's house before they build on their own.

A benefit of a business building a Habitat home, according to Jones, is the building of camaraderie among employees.

"What you can do is bring out workers and you can build a day, and it in turn contributes back camaraderie that can really be beneficial to a business. It's a really mutually beneficial relationship," Jones said.

Fitzgerald hopes the Habitat house the Board of Realtors will construct this year won't be the last one they'll build.

"It's a wonderful program. We as Realtors work everyday in our community to help families own their own homes This is an opportunity for those folks who would not otherwise be able to buy a home to do just that and become homeowners and become more productive members of society," Fitzgerald said.