For them, it's not coming any time too soon. All six children and mom currently live in less than ideal conditions -- a two bedroom manufactured home in Weber County. But hopefully ground will be broken sometime next month for their new home in Layton -- one they will all help build in different ways. That's because they were chosen, out of about 100 applicants, to occupy the first Habitat for Humanity home in Davis County for many years.
A trademark of such projects, many hands will make the home a reality -- including the Allens' sweat equity.
The Davis/Weber Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is operated under the direction of Lynn Kelley of Kaysville.
"Some think it's too hard, more of a hardship than assistance, so they opt out of the program," she says of the dozens of applicants who were screened following information meetings and an application process.
The neighborhood chosen and home built couldn't be mistaken for palaces, by any means, but are planned to be affordable and fit well into a neighborhood of modestly priced homes, Kelley explains.
"We are usually able to price the home substantially lower than what it would normally cost on the open market," she said. "With donated labor, we try to keep the other costs down."
Habitat, which is an international non-profit Christian-based agency, is able to secure loans at zero percent interest for up to 30 years. Anyone with a mortgage, even at the recent "lowest rates in 40 years," knows such a situation means a savings of many thousands of dollars.
As much of a dream as this sounds, it's not for everybody, Kelley said. Out of 100 who attended the information meetings, only two or three dozen applied.
Then there were the background checks to assure, as much as possible, that whoever is selected will follow through. "We check references, make landlord credit checks and home visits to see what the home conditions are like" of possible homeowners under the program, she explained.
"It's a very clearcut family needed to partner with, including very low income, 25 to 50 percent of median for the area. That's a real statement on how we pay teachers," Kelley said.
Allen is an elementary school teacher in Weber County, but is a single, head-of-household for her six children.
"We need to select low income, but also someone who has a steady, reliable income, try to help them succeed," she said.
"It was kind of an answer to our dreams," Allen said after seeing a flyer advertising the information meetings. "With my kids, when I got divorced, we didn't have anything."
There was hope for a house, but with mom going to school to earn her teaching certificate, that has had to wait. "As soon as I finished college, I got a job right away. I gave it six months (after starting teaching) but found out because of the divorce, credit problems, things didn't get paid off, I wasn't going to be able to get a (home) loan. We were so devastated. We tried all kinds of financing."
The Davis/Weber chapter completed two homes in Weber County last year while 175,000 homes have been built around the world since Habitat was founded 29 years ago.
While still gaining momentum in Davis County, it is particularly strong in Box Elder and Cache counties, for instance.
"We have a pretty good base of volunteers, particularly from Hill Air Force Base, from several churches, student organizations at Weber State University, local businesses," she said. "There are individuals who are willing to come out to help, to paint, lay sheetrock, etc."
Many others have donated funds, such as $5,000 from the Eccles Foundation. Kelley is president of the local Habitat board.
There is no paid staff.
tbusselberg@davisclippercom
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