Habitat for Humanity finishes Marietta home
For the first time in more than 10 years, Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley is finishing up a new residence in Marietta city limits.
Executive Director Alvin Phillips said it’s more difficult to lock down property in the city, which is why building in Marietta has been on a later timeline.
“The biggest issue is finding property to build on,” he said. “We have been fortunate in Washington County, but land in the city, especially near school buildings are hard to come by, and that available land dictates where we can build.”
From the outside (and inside for the most part) the house looks like many other Habitat built homes. It has a porch, a little yard and the typical three bedroom two bathroom layouts, but there are some differences that can be spotted. The house was described as a unique project for Habitat for Humanity, because it was built with accommodations for two blind family members.
“We are actually going to come back in the spring and put in a small play area in the backyard that will have a different texture so that the little boy will play there and know when he’s on the play area,” said Phillips.
Other accommodations include a gate on the front porch, to help establish boundaries and they are installing a railing in the driveway to help the son and father make their way to the bus stop and back into the house.
Phillips added that Habitat for Humanity collaborated with multiple organizations in order to incorporate the accommodations.
“It is important to have these boundaries and assistance tools leading toward the street,” said Phillips.
As part of the house dedication ceremony held Saturday, Senior Stitchers provided quilts and Alpha Delta Kappa, a group of retired teachers, provided books in Braille to the Fogle family, so that the son can enjoy them and his father could read to him.
Trent and Alicia Fogle expressed their gratitude towards everyone who helped them accomplish their dreams of becoming homeowners, and Trent Fogle said he wanted to especially thank his father who had helped a lot from start to finish.
Habitat partners with home buyers who are committed to providing sweat equity hours, taking homeowner education classes, and have met all requirements for home ownership. Once the home is completed, homebuyers pay a manageable mortgage payment, with no interest on their loan.
“The experience has been absolutely worthwhile,” said Trent Fogle. “And everyone at Habitat for Humanity were wonderful… We will be continuing to support them and everything they do in the area.”
Every Habitat home built is made possible by caring individuals in the community.
Volunteers dedicate hundreds of hours working to construct the homes.
In addition to volunteer service, grant funding to build the house was also provided by community organizations and businesses.
Habitat is currently celebrating 30 years of service in Wood and Washington counties.
“Technically 22 marks 31, but the pandemic has made celebrating 30 difficult,” said Phillips.
The first Habitat home in the area was built in Parkersburg and dedicated in May, 1991. Since then, they have completed 110 homes and served over 500 individuals in the Mid-Ohio Valley with permanent housing.
Phillips said that they hope to start two new homes in the area very soon.
Individuals interested in applying to Habitat’s home buying program or volunteering to help build homes can call the office at 304-422-7907 or visit www.habitatmov.com.
Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com