Habitat for Humanity dedicates recycled home in Elizabethton
Published 9:36 am Monday, December 16, 2019
Star Photo/Amber Wadovick Leah became a homeowner early Friday afternoon as the Habitat for Humanity held a dedication ceremony. The new Elizabethton resident said she had spent most of her life moving from place to place with no roots.
Star Photo/Amber Wadovick A crowd of community members and volunteers gathered at the house to celebrate the new homeowner and talk about how the process came to be. Habitat for Humanity builds or recycles houses and then offers 0 percent interest rates on the mortgage.
Star Photo/Amber Wadovick The home is actually a bit unique compared to other projects. The house originally belonged to another Habitat for Humanity recipient, but when he was in the required classes, he got married to another homeowner in the program, and so when they moved in together, the house went back to Habitat.
Members of the Elizabethton community came to dedicate the newest Habitat for Humanity home, but this one had a particular twist to it: it is actually a recycled home. Specifically, this is their 298th home project.
Executive Director of the Holston Habitat for Humanity Trish Patterson said the home was originally an earlier Habitat project a few years ago. During the required homeowner classes, however, the original homeowner met someone during the classes, fell in love and got married, therefore needing to move out of the home. Now, it is Leah’s home.
“This is where I am going to be able to put down roots for the first time in my life,” Leah said.
The recycling project took significantly less time to get together, Habitat said. They redid the floors and replaced the furniture, among other tasks.
Through occasional tears, Leah told parts of her story that led her to Elizabethton. She said ever since she was little, her family would move all around every few years.
“Saying good-bye was so frequent, I stopped saying hello,” she said.
Last year, she said Habitat for Humanity represented a chance at finding solid ground.
Habitat does not give away homes for free, Patterson said. Instead, when they build the home, they offer a zero-interest mortgage so it will be easier to pay off down the road, a model that has seen them success all over the country.
“It is a hand-up, not a hand-out,” she said.
The dedication featured many community members, including volunteers from Habitat, local pastors and County Mayor Rusty Barnett.
“This is what Carter County is all about,” Barnett said. “Carter County is the greatest place to live.”
Throughout the dedication, both Patterson and Leah said God played a crucial role throughout the process.
“My spiritual equity is where I sweat the most,” Leah said. “There are no words to express my gratitude to God.”
Patterson said there is no one in the queue for a home in Elizabethton, but she said she sees a need in the community they would love to meet.
“This will be my final move,” Leah said with a smile.
