On February 19, a rainy day in Georgia, Greene County Habitat for Humanity held a special groundbreaking ceremony for the last two houses to be built in New Horizons of Ludwig Place.

GCHFH broke ground for the $1.3 million Habitat Village June 1, 2008 the following February a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the first houses built in the village to include 15 homes at completion.

More than 30 people gathered to celebrate the start of the homes for Phong Choum and her children Kameron, Kaya and Kalen and Evelyn Pope and her son John. The construction of the houses will take place in five phases with the expected completion dates the first of June. The construction is an efficient operation utilizing skilled and non-skilled volunteers. Also, helping with these houses will be students from State University of New York at Plattsburgh traveling, to Georgia, to participate in Collegiate Challenge Build Days (March 12-16) and women participating in the Lowes sponsored Women Build Days March 13 and May 5. The completed houses are sold to the partner families with no-profit, no interest mortgages. Additionally, both families will participate in the building of their houses to fulfill their obligation of performing a minimum of 250 hours of “sweat equity” prior to moving in.

Evelyn Pope and her son will move into house 14 on Hope Lane in the Village. She is especially grateful to GCHFH for working with her toward buying her special house and for giving her family a future at New Horizons of Ludwig Place. Phong Choum moved to Greene County six years ago and is employed by the Greensboro Police Department. Choum said that being accepted as a partner family was a “dream come true” and that “the home will be a wonderful place to raise her family and living on Hope lane gives her hope for a great future.” She is especially impressed with the Village and the people who have homes there.  

The families have mentors to guide them in preparation for home ownership. Kermit and Kathy Moody will mentor the Pope family and Bob and Maggie Moran will mentor the Choum family.  These mentors are dedicated persons who become very close friends of the mentored. They prepare the families to become responsible homeowners and continue this friendship for several years after the homeowners purchase the house.  

Greene County Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian organization working to eliminate substandard housing in Greene County by building simple houses for families in need of decent homes. For more information contact Elaine Mathews at (706) 453-1718 or volunteer@gchabitat.com.