By Stephanie Nelson
For The Advance

It’s going to be a good summer for the Mollenbrink family, as construction is ramping up at the county’s newest Habitat for Humanity home.

HFH is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization dedicated to building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need. To date, the local chapter has constructed 18 homes.

Currently, work is ongoing at the HFH home in Flomaton for Rebecca Mollenbrink and her family. Crews have spent many hours building the home from the dirt up.

Alecia Glaize, county HFH chapter director, said Tuesday that “construction is moving right along.”
Mollenbrink’s three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,200-square foot home was creatively designed by students at Auburn University and is described as a “hyper energy efficient home.”

“Most of the exterior of home is finished and the hired professionals are working on the interior,” Glaize said. “This home is taking a little longer because we are taking extra steps to make it 70 percent more energy efficient than code requires.”
During the weekend, crews were busy attaching insulating foam board under the exterior siding of the home.

“We always use this on our Habitat homes, but we are using twice as much on this home in order to meet the energy efficiency requirements of the demonstration grant in which we are participating with Auburn University School of Architecture and Alabama Association of Habitat affiliates,” she said. “Also, Dow Chemical Company has donated all the insulation board for this home, as they do for all Habitat for Humanity homes built in the USA.”

Glaize reminded residents interested in the Habitat process to attend one of the upcoming orientation meetings, which will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the DHR office in Brewton and at 6 p.m. at Atmore City Hall.

To qualify, families must meet certain guidelines, including income, one’s actual housing need based on the suitability of one’s current home; the willingness to partner with Habitat and one’s ability to repay the mortgage loan.

Families must work at least 100 “sweat equity hours” at a Habitat site.

“You might qualify if you’ve been living or working in Escambia County for at least year and are in need of a better housing situation — something more permanent, safer, healthier,” Glaize said.

Glaize said one’s annual household income must be at least $14,000, but no greater than $28,000.

“You also have to be able to afford a Habitat house payment, which is about $400 a month, and still meet your financial obligations,” she said. “And, you must have a positive track record for paying off your debts on time.”

Meetings will consist of a short presentation, about 15 minutes or so about Habitat, and then, families can meet with a representative who will go step-by-step through the application process.
Those with questions may call (251) 867-0095, or email alecia@escambiahfh.org.