A success on many levels

A success on many levels

In 2001 a remarkable and high- ly productive partnership was formed. First Energy (Ohio Edison) and Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County joined forces to build simple, decent, affordable homes for low-income families..

In the past 10 years First Energy donated nearly $500,000 to our housing ministry. Those funds helped us build 12 new homes in Youngstown and Struthers. In addition to funding these homes, First Energy required us to construct Energy Star efficient houses, thus our Habitat homeowners realized significant savings on their electricity and heating bills … and Ohio Edison employees put in many hours as hard working and skilled volunteers on our building sites.

Habitat is a nonprofit builder and seller of new homes to low-income families with a housing need. Our potential partner/owners must be willing to put in 350 hours of “sweat equity” on their home while it is under construction. They make no down payment and pay no interest on their mortgage. Habitat acts as their bank and holds a first and second mortgage. Their monthly mortgage payments are less than what they would pay locally to rent a much smaller house or apartment.

Our partnership with First Energy has greatly benefited the greater community. A perfect example is our Marantha neighborhood project on Youngstown’s East Side. On land that was vacant four years ago stand four new Habitat ranch homes with basements, attached garages and paved driveways. They are the result of our partnership with First Energy. And a fifth home will be built there in 2012.

First Energy also helped 30 other Habitat affiliates in Ohio over the past decade.The utility’s generosity and volunteer spirit has been vital to Habitat’s housing ministry locally and statewide. Most importantly for our community, 12 hard working low income families were able to realize their dream of owning a new home providing the warmth, safety and comfort so many of us take for granted.

Monica Craven, Struthers

The writer is executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County.