Nonprofit to begin on 17th home: Single mother of three chosen for next project in Dixon
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| Jessica McCarver will become the 17th Habitat for Humanity homeowner in Dixon. The single mother of three children – Jessena, 9, Jayden, 8, and Jase, 3 – gathered Saturday with Dixon Habitat for Humanity board members at the site of their future home, 205 Cropsey Ave. (SVN Staff) |
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DIXON – There’s no place like a new home.
“I’m truly blessed that they chose me,” Jessica McCarver said.
McCarver will become the 17th Habitat for Humanity homeowner in Dixon. The single mother of three children – Jessena, 9, Jayden, 8, and Jase, 3 – gathered Saturday with Dixon Habitat for Humanity board members at the site of their future home, 205 Cropsey Ave.
The family has been living in a two-bedroom home on Ferris Street for 7 years.
“We outgrew it a long time ago,” McCarver said.
A three-bedroom, 1,250- square-foot ranch house will replace their current habitat, board president Jim Dixon said. Dixon said the selection committee solicited, collected and reviewed applications to determine the next homeowner.
“[They proceeded] basically like a bank would,” he said.
That included background and credit checks. Following that process is meant to accomplish one goal: “Select the family we can help the most,” Dixon said.
He said Habitat for Humanity has been helping fill the “strong need for affordable housing” in the community since 1993.
Contributions from a fundraising letter and other “spontaneous” donations help Dixon Habitat for Humanity further its mission, he said. Dixon also said one-third of the money comes from families paying their mortgages. All homes are sold at no profit.
Homeowners receive a no-interest mortgage. Every adult living in the home is required to provide 200 hours of sweat equity – 25 percent can come from family members not living in the home.
The organization doesn’t work with a construction company. Rather, Dixon said Habitat for Humanity has its own project manager, Jan Thompson, who guides construction.
But other professional help is sought with heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing work. The home will feature energy-efficient appliances and windows.
“We don’t build junk,” Dixon said.
A sturdy home sits next to where the McCarvers will live. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house shelters Jennifer McGuire and her five children, Nicole, 18, Justin, 17, Morgan, 11, and 10-year-old twins, Elizabeth and Donald.
They lived in an apartment before receiving their Habitat for Humanity home.
“It’s really nice,” McGuire said.
