Special to the Advance

Escambia County Habitat for Humanity is on the search for families hoping for a home of their own.

Lisa Tindell, executive director of the county-wide organization, said the 2016-17 application period is now underway.

“We will be taking applications from families who are interested in becoming our next homeowners,” Tindell said. “We will be accepting applications through the end of August.”

The fiscal year for Habitat runs from July 1 through June 30 each year and plans are to build a house before the current fiscal year ends, Tindell said.

“We have just completed one of our ‘Brush With Kindness’ projects on Rankin Street in Brewton,” Tindell said. “We are now looking to build a home for a new family sometime before June 2017.”

Tindell said those who have completed and submitted an application in the past 12 months are still eligible for consideration and new applications will continue to be accepted.

“We had previously accepted several applications in anticipation of building a house this year,” Tindell said. “Although funding was not in place to make that happen, we are keeping those applications active and will certainly consider those applicants in the decision process for our next home building project.”

Tindell said applications are open to those who live anywhere in Escambia County.

“We cover the entire county and are looking to help anyone in our area who qualifies and needs a safe, decent home in which to live,” Tindell said. “We have built 23 homes since this organization began in 1996 and are looking for our 24th homeowner this year. Along with building homes, we have also been involved in renovating and repairing several other homes during the history of the group.”

Tindell said each project – whether a new home or repairs on an existing home – are all paid for through donations and proceeds from the sale of items at the Restore.

“We are so lucky to be have The Restore in our community,” Tindell said. “Through the leadership of Jack O’Neal and Robyn Hydar, the store is always adding new merchandise and revamping donations to be sold to our customers. That work helps make it possible for us to continue this ministry to help those in need in our county. Donations of household goods are cleaned, checked and placed on the shelves for re-sell to the public. With all the new home-improvement items and furniture Jack and Robyn keep stocked in the store for sale, we are able to make the dream of home-ownership for families in our county a reality.”

Tindell said monetary donations and fundraising events also help with funding for projects of Habitat.

“We are working on plans for a big fundraiser this fall to give people in our communities an opportunity to make our next building project possible,” Tindell said. “We had to post-pone our spring fundraiser in Brewton due to a flood at Jennings Park. We hope to reschedule that event in the future. We also take monetary donations and apply them directly to our projects in the county. We are happy to provide a statement for tax purposes acknowledging any donations. We are a 501c3 organization and donations are fully tax-deductible.”

-Tindell said anyone interested in completing an application or in learning more about Escambia County Habitat for Humanity is welcome to drop by the offices inside the Habitat Restore or simply call 867-0095.

Applications are available at the Habitat Restore/Office located at 1606 Douglas Avenue. Applications will also be mailed to those who cannot make it to the Restore.