HCo.HFH Receives $9,500 Grant from Maine Community Foundation

The Maine Community Foundation has awarded a $9,500 grant from the Hancock County Fund to Hancock County Habitat for Humanity to build Habitat’s Home #18 with the Combs family in Sedgwick.  This matching funds grant engages 12 area churches in fundraising and volunteer labor in what Habitat for Humanity calls a Disciple-build.  According to Jimmy Goodson, Hancock County Habitat’s Executive Director, “Missy Combs is a motivated, resourceful mother of two who works hard to provide for her family.  Their family currently lives in her mother’s house with other relatives in an overcrowded situation.  With donated family land in Sedgwick, we plan to begin home construction this fall.  With this generous grant from the Maine Community Foundation, we are well on our way to making their dream of homeownership a reality”.  Jimmy Goodson, Habitat Executive Director, gratefully receives the MaineCF grant check from Mary Blackstone, member of the Hancock County Fund committee of the Maine Community Foundation.  Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable, zero interest loans.  In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.  Habitat for Humanity is currently the 6th largest home builder in the US and has been very successful in building with low income populations due in large part to being able to motivate churches.  Over the past 24 years Hancock County Habitat has built 17 homes with partner families, including a home in Lamoine now under construction.  We believe this Disciple-build is a project-driven way to engage churches to join our mission, forming a coalition with area churches opening doors to new church partners on the Blue Hill peninsula.  With offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.