On Sunday August 27th, Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 31st home in Dyer County. The affiliate is celebrating 30 years of building hope through safe, affordable, and decent housing. Drew Binkley, the current board President welcomed everyone and opened the dedication as the group met in the living area of the new home. Executive Director, Michael Wilson, thanked everyone who contributed and mentioned numerous sponsors that helped make this home possible. He further explained the mission of Habitat which is to see a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat does that through building safe, affordable, and decent housing offered to qualified homeowners through a 0% interest mortgage.
Margie James presented a Habitat Bible and the house keys to Tashana Brown, the qualified new homeowner. Margie’s late husband, Charlie James, was very instrumental in the Habitat program for many years as both a board member and the lead construction manager. The area where Habitat has been building homes for the last several years is aptly named St. James Subdivision.
Mayors David Quick and John Holden were both at the dedication and congratulated the homeowner and Habitat on their successful build.
One thing that was highlighted during the dedication was the new partnership between Habitat and Tennessee College of Technology. TCAT’s newest addition is a construction class and Habitat was able to provide the class with a real on-site learning lab. Instructor Chad Sipes would bring out his students to work on the house build. This year, the students produced door and window headers, installed all the house siding, interior trim and built the side deck.
Michael Wilson ended the program by praying a prayer of dedication over the house and the family.
Tashana thanked everyone for helping build her new home and showed profound emotion as she was handed the keys. She had to wait over 12 months for this moment. During that time, she has taken homeowner education classes and put in numerous sweat-equity hours in the building of her home.
Tashana is a Shift Manager at Arby’s where she has worked for 18 years. She is moving out of a very unsafe neighborhood. When asked how her life and future will be different with a Habitat home, she responded, “My will be a lot different because I would have something to leave to my kids and grandkids in the future.” She was asked to describe Habitat. She said, “Habitat is willing to help you reach your dreams of becoming a homeowner.”
Habitat would like to recognize everyone that contributed both their labor and money to help us build this 31st home. Special thanks go to United Way of West TN, Summit Roofing, GAF Shingles, Matt Jacobi, Heathcott & Associates, Yale Locks, Levelor Blinds, Google Nest, Aztek Pest Control, Marc Fontaine, TCAT, Whirlpool Appliances, Windle HVAC, Security Bank, Carolyn Taylor.
