Huntington has “A Heritage of Caring”

Heritage Days 2025, June 11 through June 15, will celebrate the people of Huntington and how they care for one another with the theme, “A Heritage of Caring.” Over the years many individuals, businesses and organizations have united the community in caring for one another. Each week the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce will highlight one of these entities in this column.

Huntington County Habitat for Humanity has a long history of caring for the needs of those desiring home ownership. Currently two homes are in the works for two families in the Habitat Homeownership Program in Huntington.

With the help of the Huntington community, Habitat strives to care for their clients with the opportunity to have affordable housing. Clients learn about budgets, managing money and how to be a successful homeowner according to one participant currently in the Habitat Homeownership Program.

Huntington resident Jack Barlow joined the Habitat team as Huntington area manager in October 2024. Barlow believes his role at Habitat allows him to give back to the Huntington community while fulfilling Gods’ desire for us to love our neighbor. Barlow is a Huntington North and Huntington University graduate. He currently is a member of Central Christian Church and serves on the board of By the Book.

According to the Habitat website, a Habitat home is a symbol of hope – a fresh start full of stability, safety and financial freedom. Habitat creates opportunities for low-to middle-income families to purchase a home with an affordable mortgage. While one in six families pay more than 50 percent or more of their income on housing, Habitat mortgage payments are never more than 26 percent of a family’s gross monthly income.

Since 1986 Habitat has created affordable homeownership opportunities, and advocated for the financial security and equity it creates for future generations. A Habitat home comes with one, two, three or four bedrooms, and one or two bathrooms, and features a covered front porch, waterproof laminate vinyl plank flooring, a concrete parking pad, outdoor shed, landscaping package, refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer.

Community support helps the success of the process. Those who may be willing to donate land aid the building process. Local businesses can donate goods, materials, services and/or labor to support the families who will live in Habitat built homes. Financial contributions help cover many of the costs. Opportunities also exist for volunteer days, “pass the keys” to a Habitat family at their home dedication, logo on the build site or Habitat homepage and annual report recognition.

Volunteers are welcome to work at build sites, supply lunches, donate water and snacks and work at the ReStore in Fort Wayne. Specific builds for women and panels builds for large groups are other ways to show care for Habitat families.

Those willing to donate land, become a corporate sponsor, give an in-kind donation or discover other ways to support Huntington County builds, can email Staci Mathias: smathias@habitatgfw.com. Families interested in applying for the Homeownership Program who have lived or worked in Huntington County for at least a year can visit habitatgfw.com/homeownership/ for more information.