An avid community volunteer, Emma Wise has volunteered with the Geauga County chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Newbury, Ohio. There, Emma Wise partnered with organization leaders and other volunteers to build homes for families in need.

1. By Emma Wise

2.  An avid community volunteer, Emma Wise has volunteered
with the Geauga County chapter of Habitat for Humanity in
Newbury, Ohio. There, Emma Wise partnered with
organization leaders and other volunteers to build homes
for families in need.
To own a home through Geauga County Habitat for
Humanity, a family must be a county resident for a
minimum of two years. The family must also demonstrate
both financial and physical need. This means that the
family's current living conditions must fail to meet basic
needs and/or safety standards and that the family must be
unable to obtain a traditional mortgage. However, the
family must possess the means to pay for expenses
related to home ownership.

3.  According to accepted guidelines, a family's
monthly mortgage costs as a Habitat owner
must be equal to or less than 38 percent of
their gross monthly income. These costs
typically range from $500 to $700. Habitat
can work with a family to reduce debts and
revise their monthly budget so that, provided
that their income meets these qualifications,
they can more effectively pay housing-related
bills.

4.  Potential Habitat owners must also be willing
to participate in the building effort. Those for
whom Habitat is building a new house must
agree to contribute at least 400 hours of
sweat equity and, for renovations, 250 hours.
On-site construction work and administrative
work both count toward those hours.