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Kim Henry helps build $90,000 Habitat for Humanity house
From The Journal Record
Kim Henry helps build $90,000 Habitat for Humanity house
Jan 16, 2006, 11:15 AM
BY BRANDICE J. ARMSTRONG
THE JOURNAL RECORD
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma's first lady Kim Henry, with a team of about 30 people, started a two-week project Saturday, constructing a home for Habitat for Humanity's 2006 First Lady's Blitz Build. When finished on Jan. 28, the four-bedroom, 1,250-square-foot house at 3901 W. Park Place will be sold to Joseph and Vickie Crim, a low-income couple with three young children.
If on the market, the house would cost about $90,000, said Ann Felton, CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.
"Homelessness is a horrible plight, especially for someone with a family," Henry said. "I have a great husband, great children who are healthy, doing well in school and are well adjusted. A lot has been given to me. I don't know why my life is so blessed and why others (that) work just as hard, for some reason, are not. I want to do what I can and I'm impressed with the integrity of Habitat for Humanity."
Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy Co. are sponsors for the Crims' house and each business contributed $30,000, the cost for supplies.
The Crims are one of about 40 families waiting for a house from Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of the international nonprofit organization.
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity will construct 52 houses this year. In 2005, 40 were built. The yearly number is set by the board of directors, depending on need, Felton said.
Since 1990, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity has built more than 370 homes.
There are approximately 3,000 applicants each year, Felton said. In order to qualify for a home, applicants must have a secure gross annual income of at least $16,000. They must also be willing to volunteer 300 hours to the construction of their new residence. The house payment is set at 20 percent of the total monthly household income at the time of closing. Mortgages average $400 per month. It includes three escrow deductions for property taxes, homeowner insurance and home maintenance. Of the 372 homes sold, only six were repossessed through foreclosure, according to the Habitat for Humanity fact sheet.
As of Jan. 2005, there were approximately 1,500 homeless people in Oklahoma City. Of them, 39 percent had been homeless for more than a year. Ages ranged from two weeks to 96 years, but the most common was 42 years old, according to The Homeless Alliance Inc. in Oklahoma City. January 2005's statistics were the most recent, but Program Coordinator Jennifer Gooden said information would be updated Thursday, Jan. 19.
Brandice J. Armstrong reports on real estate, technology, manufacturing, entertainment, tourism and media. You may reach her by phone at 278-2846 or by e-mail at brandice.armstrong@journalrecord.com.
Kim Henry helps build $90,000 Habitat for Humanity house
Jan 16, 2006, 11:15 AM
BY BRANDICE J. ARMSTRONG
THE JOURNAL RECORD
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma's first lady Kim Henry, with a team of about 30 people, started a two-week project Saturday, constructing a home for Habitat for Humanity's 2006 First Lady's Blitz Build. When finished on Jan. 28, the four-bedroom, 1,250-square-foot house at 3901 W. Park Place will be sold to Joseph and Vickie Crim, a low-income couple with three young children.
If on the market, the house would cost about $90,000, said Ann Felton, CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.
"Homelessness is a horrible plight, especially for someone with a family," Henry said. "I have a great husband, great children who are healthy, doing well in school and are well adjusted. A lot has been given to me. I don't know why my life is so blessed and why others (that) work just as hard, for some reason, are not. I want to do what I can and I'm impressed with the integrity of Habitat for Humanity."
Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy Co. are sponsors for the Crims' house and each business contributed $30,000, the cost for supplies.
The Crims are one of about 40 families waiting for a house from Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of the international nonprofit organization.
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity will construct 52 houses this year. In 2005, 40 were built. The yearly number is set by the board of directors, depending on need, Felton said.
Since 1990, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity has built more than 370 homes.
There are approximately 3,000 applicants each year, Felton said. In order to qualify for a home, applicants must have a secure gross annual income of at least $16,000. They must also be willing to volunteer 300 hours to the construction of their new residence. The house payment is set at 20 percent of the total monthly household income at the time of closing. Mortgages average $400 per month. It includes three escrow deductions for property taxes, homeowner insurance and home maintenance. Of the 372 homes sold, only six were repossessed through foreclosure, according to the Habitat for Humanity fact sheet.
As of Jan. 2005, there were approximately 1,500 homeless people in Oklahoma City. Of them, 39 percent had been homeless for more than a year. Ages ranged from two weeks to 96 years, but the most common was 42 years old, according to The Homeless Alliance Inc. in Oklahoma City. January 2005's statistics were the most recent, but Program Coordinator Jennifer Gooden said information would be updated Thursday, Jan. 19.
Brandice J. Armstrong reports on real estate, technology, manufacturing, entertainment, tourism and media. You may reach her by phone at 278-2846 or by e-mail at brandice.armstrong@journalrecord.com.
