Jamal, Katrina, and their four children are the owners of a newly built Habitat for Humanity home in Tryon, North Carolina.

The family was living in a rented apartment, much too small for a family of six. The bedrooms had drafty windows, the sills were covered in mold, there was no safe place for the children to play outside and there were bedbug infestations in the building. 

While working full-time jobs and saving money each month, Jamal and Katrina spent many sweat equity hours helping to build their house with habitat volunteers.  

Prospective Habitat homeowners must currently live or work in Polk County or Landrum, be living in inadequate housing and unable to obtain a traditional mortgage. They must partner with Habitat throughout the process, performing sweat equity helping to build their own home.

Homeowners must also meet certain citizenship and income requirements, have a steady source of income, demonstrate financial responsibility and be able to pay an affordable mortgage which is defined as no more than 30 percent of their income.

Thermal Belt Habitat has operated in the Polk County and Landrum area since 1983. Thermal Belt Habitat merged with Henderson County Habitat in 2017. 

While the Hendersonville office is the administrative hub for both the Henderson County and Thermal Belt Habitat divisions, donations from the Thermal Belt area and donations from Henderson County are kept separate and used only in their respective areas. 

“We strongly believe communities want to support the Habitat projects in their own community, so that is how we operate with the two divisions under our administration,” said Angie Hunter, director of development.

Those interested in learning more may call 828-694-0340.

– Submitted by Angie Hunter