AFMC Command News

Officers help out hurricane victims

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kristen D. Duncan
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 10 Eglin Company Grade Officers volunteered their time and handy work for two local Hurricane Ivan victims June 3 in Fort Walton Beach with Habitat for Humanity.

The two hurricane victims lost their homes in 2004 and have been living in temporary housing provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and with family members since then.

The officers and other volunteers have been working on their two homes since January and March every Tuesday and Saturday alongside the future residents. Soon-to-be neighbors, both ladies and their families are already good friends.

“They had everything destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, and they’ve been waiting a while,” said Nitsi Bennett, Okaloosa County Habitat for Humanity president. “They pulled together.”

The homes, which are appraised at $215,000, are given to the residents through a first mortgage at no interest for 25 years, and a ghost mortgage held by the organization, according to Ms. Bennett. Habitat provides the loan sponsored by a corporation.

The families can’t ever sell their homes; instead the homes are given back to Habitat who will pass them on to other needy families.

Habitat pays for materials, funded through corporate sponsors and fundraisers, and the work is done primarily by volunteers, including professional contractors.

“We helped sod the lawn, install bathroom fixtures, install gutters and painting and sanding,” said 1st Lt. Chris Mathews, 96th Dental Squadron group project manager. Other volunteers worked on the electricity and sprinkler systems.

Habitat for Humanity is an international charity aimed at building homes at low-cost for families. Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action, according to its Web site.