IF YOU’RE new to Habitat for Humanity, start with a visit to the Habitat Store just off Shelbyville’s Historic Square at 209 E. Depot Street. That sweet, inviting voice you’ll hear belongs to Shontelli (pronounced Shawn-tell) Head. You’ll immediately feel right at home.
Speaking of home, ask her about hers; and about working at the store; and about all the ways Pam Birtcil and the Habitat program change lives. Shontelli and 52 other Bedford County families became homeowners under a program that enables families with unconventional credit and income situations to buy a home through education programs and sweat equity at zero percent interest.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity, our local organization, has been busy building homes and better lives here for over 26 years.
Their newest home build kicked off this September with a Build Up Bedford event to clean off the recently acquired lot on Oak Street in Shelbyville. The lot needed numerous trees removed and other site preparation work to hit the ground running with their 53rd house.
Before construction begins on any house, every penny of the construction costs must have already been raised. Costs are sometimes offset after completion by grants funded by Habitat Tennessee through THDA so those funds go into funding the next house. Other than the grants, Habitat is fully funded by donations, the Habitat Store sales, and its annual Ball. Their annual Ball held each February almost completely pays for a house, especially if the land has already been purchased.
COVID-19 is taking its toll on all non-profits, but many of the Ball’s sponsors continued their regular donations enabling the new build, and sales at the store allowed the organization to keep its four employees busy. Executive Director Pam Birtcil said, “If there’s one thing COVID has taught me, it’s that you have to be fluid right now; that’s what I’ve learned the past year.”
To qualify to purchase a home, you must live in Bedford County; qualify as HUD low income; have enough income to pay the mortgage; have a need for shelter; be willing to attend education classes; work 350 hours sweat equity; and pass a background and credit check. The 12 education classes and sweat equity programs usually take one and a half to two years to complete. The qualifying family gains credit working on the current Habitat home and working in the Habitat store.
The store’s inventory is all donated,and everything purchased from the store goes back into providing affordable housing. The store is open to the public and welcomes donations.
You can donate online at www.bedfordbuildshabitat.org or mail checks to P. O. Box 122, Shelbyville, TN 37162. To volunteer to work on a home or in the store, please call the store at (931) 684-4300 to be placed on their list. -GN
