As most of you are aware, the OCHFH Re-Sale Store is closed at least until further notice. Please continue to monitor our notices so that we can keep you apprised of potential closure extensions. At the same time the Board of Directors would like to assure all of our volunteers, supporters, and families that Habitat’s work is continuing.
Store and Truck
Despite the closure, work on improving back of the store lighting has progressed, as well as HVAC maintenance. Some needed maintenance (including new tires) has been performed on the truck. We had begun securing bids for parking lot repairs and re-surfacing this summer, but we recently put that on hold as a cost saving measure in view of diminished revenue. Some thought has been put into added safety precautions when we do re-open, but it’s simply premature to establish any definitive policies.
Construction
Construction activities are ongoing at this time, with many added precautions for our volunteer workers. We will closely monitor this and shut down if the need arises. At our West Union Site we have completed seven homes to date (one of which was just completed and will close in early April…we’re still in the discussions regarding a dedication event).
There are currently four homes under construction and all have been assigned to homeowner candidates. Additionally, we have one candidate who has accumulated sufficient hours to be assigned a home and for which construction has not yet begun. We have three candidates that are working on their hours and have not been assigned a home yet. Since there are three lots in our West Union Phase I subdivision remaining, all of the candidates that have been approved at this time will be able to live in the West Union subdivision. Future candidates will be at our next build site, which the Board has decided will be the Mt. Nebo subdivision near the airport. We anticipate putting in our first foundation at that location in early 2021.
While we have canceled our volunteer landscaping event that was scheduled for March, we have directed our landscaping contractor to have his workers do the work. He has agreed to do this at minimum additional cost to Habitat.
Habitat Homeowners
We have communicated to all of our 87 Habitat homeowners that for those whose finances have impacted their ability to continue paying their mortgages, we will defer those payments. There are several steps they need to take to receive that deferral, but it is available. Additionally, you should have been notified of our “adopt a Habitat family” initiative to have our volunteers contact all of our families to determine their current situation so that we can determine if there is more we need to do. We have found that many of the phone numbers that we have on file are obsolete, so we’re working on alternative means of communication.
We received two requests in February from Habitat homeowners for $1,000 scholarships from the Holzhauer Education Fund. Both requests were approved. The fund balance is in excess of $32,000.
We have received a lot of information regarding legislation to provide financial assistance to families from SC Habitat. At this time that information remains vague and conflicting. We’ve asked SC Habitat to clarify with our legislators when a concise and simple summary of benefits and how to apply for them is available so that we can pass that information along to our families.
Sustainability and other SC Habitat Affiliates
Even considering the lost revenue due to the store closure as well as diminished mortgage revenue, we are well positioned financially and should remain solvent even if the coronavirus crises continues until year end (hopefully it will not).
Recently we have been in close contact with the other SC Habitat affiliates via bi-weekly virtual meetings. With a few exceptions most of the Habitat stores, offices, and construction activities are shut down state-wide. Having listened to the issues that other SC affiliates are struggling with over the past several weeks, it is clear that, as an all-volunteer organization, we are in a much better position to weather this storm than our fellow SC affiliates.
We hope this update has been helpful. We value all of our volunteers, without which this organization and the resulting contribution to stable affordable housing in Oconee County would not exist. Please stay safe in the coming weeks.
Thom McCluskey
President, Oconee County Habitat for Humanity