Arkansas City
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian ministry
whose mission is to partner with qualified families in need and provide
them the opportunity for safe, decent, affordable housing.
Applications
for Habitat House #24 will be accepted from February 1 – April 15, 2025. No house will be built in 2024-2025. The
partner family will be selected by the first of June,
The house will begin building in September and be
finished by the end of February.
The Stansbury family take possession of their new Habitat home.
Habitat Builds Hope in 2024!
The crowd gathered on the cool rainy Sunday afternoon full of hope and excitement for Casslynn Stansbury and her children, William and Athena. Sunday March 24th marked the official day Casslynn, and her children will begin a new chapter in a safe and secure new home built by the Arkansas City chapter for Habitat for Humanity. The Habitat board brought together Casslynn's family, extended family, and members of the Habitat for Humanity board on Sunday for a house blessing to officially welcome the Stansbury family into their new home.
Curt Freeland, Arkansas City Habitat for Humanity board president, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome to family and guests on behalf of the Habitat for Humanity board. Freeland expressed best wishes to the family for renewed hope and happiness in their new home. Freeland gave a brief background of how Habitat for Humanity began, and the important mission of the founders to partner with qualified families in need to provide safe and affordable housing. Freeland extended his gratitude to everyone who gave their time and resources to help construct this home for the Stansbury family. Then Freeland invited Jason Elstun, Casslynn's Pastor, Cornerstone Christian Church in Atlanta to offer a blessing on the home on behalf of the Stansbury family. Next, Pastor Eugene McCarty, member of the Arkansas City Habitat board, offered a prayer of thanks for those who have worked diligently to build this house and the resources provided to make this house a reality. Pastor McCarty presented the family with an inscribed Bible on behalf of the Habitat for Humanity Board. Casslynn expressed her gratitude to the Habitat board and all of the volunteers and trade professionals who worked tirelessly to build her home. Casslynn said " our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has worked on our habitat house or donated funds to purchase the materials to so that we might have a secure and permanent home."
This is the 23rd home completed by Habitat for Humanity of Arkansas City taking about 6 months to complete with 1,500 hours of volunteer labor and 116 days on site to complete the home. There were 20 volunteers that worked on the house in addition to the trade professionals and family. The workforce on the construction of the home is done by many volunteers and trade professionals who donate their time installing and constructing the areas of the project that require specialized licensure or skills.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry whose vision is to work toward a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity International was established in 1976, and the Habitat for Humanity Arkansas City affiliate began building homes in 2001 and has built one new habitat home each year since then. The funds for constructing the homes are provided through mortgage payments, donations and fundraisers.
Habitat for Humanity of Arkansas City held their first fundraiser since Covid. 150 people enjoyed the Mardi Gras themed evening. The ACHS Jazz Band, led by Hans Judd and Chris VanGilder, played New Orleans tunes.
Click below - New Video by Cowley County Junior College class Introduction to Public Relations interviewed and produced the following video for the 2023 Ark City Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, "Let the Good Times Roll." The featured Habitat partner families have been in their homes from one to twelve years.
WHAT WE DO
Habitat homes are constructed primarily by volunteers, using
both donated and purchased building materials. It takes
approximately six months to complete a Habitat house.
Our partner families fulfill their required 300 hours of sweat
equity by helping build their home and by assisting with Habitat
fund raisers. Some of our houses are partially sponsored by
churches, businesses, organizations, or individuals.
We sell our houses at no profit, offering our partner families a
20-year, interest-free mortgage. Monthly payments range between
$500 and $600, depending on taxes and insurance. The monthly
payments are then used to help fund the building of more houses.
We also tithe 10% of our income to Mexico Habitat for Humanity
which is normally enough to build one house in Mexico for each
house we build locally. Donations, which are tax deductible, are
always welcome.
HOME OWNERSHIP
Becoming one of our partner families is the beginning of a
long-term relationship with us. To become a partner family, the
applicant must:
Demonstrate a need for better housing
Have
enough yearly income to meet the financial responsibilities
of home ownership
Be
willing to partner with us by providing 300 hours of sweat
equity working on their Habitat house.
Once an application is completed, it is carefully reviewed by
the Family Selection Committee of the Arkansas City Habitat for
Humanity organization and a home visit is made. Qualified
applicants need to be approved by the Arkansas City Habitat for
Humanity Board of Directors.
HOW to
VOLUNTEER
While most volunteers choose to work on-site, there are several
other opportunities for volunteering in our organization. All of
the committees are made up of community volunteers including:
Family Selection Committee
Family Support Committee
Fund
Raising Committees
To
volunteer, contact us by:
phone, 441-3755
mail, P.O. Box 401
website, arkcityhabitat.org
email cfreeland@cox.net
We will provide additional information on opportunities for you
to volunteer.
The location of our current worksite can be obtained by calling
the above number. Anyone over the age of 14 can volunteer,
though there are some limitations for volunteers between 14-18
years of age.
