MOUNT VERNON — Jason and Tamara Wood didn’t expect to be living in a fully renovated and refurbished home last year.
They were renters — giving someone else a check for a roof they didn’t own.
It wasn’t until the Wood’s were informed they had to find a new home–a decision had to be made.
Either continue to rent or find permanent housing.
That’s when Habitat for Humanity came to the rescue.
Habitat for Humanity in Knox County builds, refurbishes and renovates households for those in need of housing.
As of Wednesday, Habitat For Humanity has constructed 28 houses and revamped six. The Wood’s marked the 30th family helped by Habitat For Humanity.
The Wood’s were given the keys to their home at 16 Cottage St. on Wednesday afternoon by Habitat For Humanity Executive Director Terry Schulz, surrounded by family and volunteers.
The Wood’s received house-warming gifts including sugar, salt, bread, a candle and a Bible — each symbolizing a unique aspect of home life.
“It’s a blessing,” Jason Wood said. “God answered (our) prayers.”
Putting families into homes isn’t the only part of the equation at Habitat For Humanity. Finance and money management classes are offered too, Schulz said.
Houses are constructed/rebuilt/revamped by volunteers and contractors needed for specific tasks like engineering, plumbing, etc.
For Schulz, presenting the keys is his favorite day, he said.
“It’s the end of a very, very long process,” he said.
The Woods family and Habitat For Humanity have been working together for approximately 15 months — ensuring the house was in tip-top shape before move-in day.
It’s about knowing the Wood’s have an affordable home to live in and maintain, Schulz said — a home to make their own.
Affordability is a key pillar of Habitat For Humanity’s mission — ensuring homes have a 0% interest rate.
“This is a house that we built back in 2016 and (we) have the opportunity to make it work for another family (…) which is great,” Schulz said. “An opportunity to take something that wasn’t useful and make it useful for a new family. We’re so excited.
“It’s been months of hard work, plenty of frustration from time-to-time, a lot of fun, sweat and blood.
“It’s hard work. It’s not easy. It’s not a painless process. But it’s a process and today we are thankful for this family and all their hard work over the past 15 months.”