Habitat dedicates first house in Atmore

Kim Fountain’s wait for a home to call her own ended on March 31.

Escambia County Habitat for Humanity held a home dedication ceremony for Fountain and her family at a residence on East Craig Street, the first home for the organization in Atmore proper.

“It’s just a blessing from God,” Fountain said. “It took some time, but we’ve got a home.”

Escambia County Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seek to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope.

During the dedication, Fountain was presented a Bible, a hammer and keys.

Fountain is moving into a house that was donated to the organization. Six months ago, demolition began and a total rebuild commenced.

Executive Director Lisa Tindell said it is a blessing to have dedicated the house.

“I think it’s a blessing for Habitat,” Tindell said. “The thing that’s impressed me the most is the people who volunteered to help from the very beginning.”

Those who helped rebuild the home include Legend Timber (Ron Zundel), Alabama Power Service Organization, First United Methodist Church of Atmore, First National Bank and Trust of Atmore, Habitat Restore, the Maytag Corporation, the county’s Habitat board members and volunteers.

Tindell said when Habitat was gifted the property, a building inspector came and inspected the home. What he found, she said, was a back wall of termites, a leaking floor, walls, ceiling and roof, among other things.

“Of course, what ended up happening is that we ended up with a slab and a few studs and rafters, and that was it,” Tindell said. “Everything in the house is new from the flooring to the roof. There’s new plumbing and electrical. This was basically a rebuild.”

To help save with the cost of the build and to the Fountain family moving in, some great volunteers helped with the effort, Tindell said.

“We actually have been very blessed,” she said. “The money that we received from the Celebrity Waiter event last March (2017) was a huge help in funding this project.

“It wasn’t just the board or the Habitat workers; it was volunteers, donations and all of that,” she said.

The East Craig Street home is the 23rd house Habitat for Humanity has built inside of the county.

Fountain, along with her twins, Marquez and Makayla, along with her other daughter, Breona, moved into their new home this week.

“I’ve been waiting on this day for a long while,” she said.