Number 49 will be commemorated at Ecklund Court on August 1st. A ceremony is scheduled to be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the residence. That’s according to Habitat Executive Director Jordan Knight who says with the dedication, it will be a way for the family moving in, to “celebrate a dream that has now become a reality.”
Knight essentially says consistent volunteer support has allowed the organization to build homes for lower income residents.
However, Knight tells WGIL, that Habitat doesn’t just give homes away.
“They aren’t rented, they aren’t prefabricated, they are sold on a zero interest loan and that makes it affordable of course,” says Knight. “They’ve got a loan period just like any other homeowner. 20 to 30 years is what we are looking at. Average cost–$70,000 to $75,000–which is what we feel is very affordable for this day and age. We’re here to make sure that no more than 30 % of the monthly income that they have goes towards their mortgage payment.”
Knight says home number 50 isn’t far off either. Upon completion, Ecklund Court will become the first Habitat-built neighborhood since the organization was founded in 1993.