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Habitat for Humanity is branching out

Aiyana Baida, Highlands Today

Pakita Daughma, her daughter, Tamika Jackson and her granddaughter Tashavia Callahan, 14, visit their new home in Sebring on Monday Nov. 23. Daughma, 51, custodian of Sebring Middle School, said for years she has dreamed of owning her own home. The home was rehabbed through Habitat for Humanity and donations made by the Rotary Club of Sebring Charities Inc, a division of Sebring Noon Rotary Club.

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By AIYANA BAIDA

Highlands Today

Published: November 24, 2009

SEBRING - The home Pakita Daughma now calls "home" came as a complete surprise just over a year ago.

Nancy Ginorio, Habitat for Humanity manager of program services, said five eligible families walked through the home before Daughma. For one reason or another they just weren't interested - but not Daughma.

When she walked through the home she saw her granddaughter's room to the left, a family T.V. room by the front and her own kitchen where she can make her favorite dishes.

"I was so surprised I couldn't stop crying...I'm so thankful," Daughma said.

Daughma and her granddaughter, Tashavia Callahan, 14, will move in this afternoon, just in time for Thanksgiving.

The 51-year-old custodian at Sebring Middle School said for years she has dreamed of owning her own home.

In the past four years Daughma and her granddaughter have lived in four different places.

Through the moves most of their possessions were left in boxes. But they're now anxious to take them out and start decorating their new place.

"I can't wait to hang up pictures of my friends," Callahan said.

Daughma can't wait to get her hands on some paint and personalize her space.

"I'm thinking of beige...it'll go with my furniture," she said.

Their rehabbed home with new appliances and stocked pantry was possible through Habitat for Humanity and the Rotary Club of Sebring Charities Inc., a division of Sebring Noon Rotary Club.

The home was one of five homes that was going to be demolished during the Sebring Parkway project. After winning a bid on the property, Habitat paid about $9,000 to move the home to its current lot.

The Rotary Club donated $2,500 for rehabbing the home and gave the family $300 to stock their pantry.

With this program new home owners like Daughma pay Habitat low mortgage payments, interest free.

"God has blessed me to finally be in my own home. I don't have to move anymore," Daughma said.

Re-habitat homes

The economy has impacted funding for many non-profits including Habitat. That hasn't stopped them from creating affordable housing. They've simply changed the way they do it.

Instead of solely relying on building new homes or waiting for donated ones, they are looking into foreclosed homes.

Of the five homes being rehabbed, three are foreclosed homes, Alan Ball, Habitat construction manager, said.

"Nationwide a lot of Habitats are getting into rehabbing homes," Ball said.

"It's a sign of the times," he added.

To Ball it just makes sense.

Buying foreclosed homes and rehabbing them, costs less and takes less time to complete, Ball said.

Habitat has also branched out to help homeowners. In January they acquired Rebuilding Together, a non-profit that rehabs homes for low income home owners or those with disabilities. Since then they have added Rebuilding Together's mission to their own and are now helping eligible home owners fix up their properties.

"I call it re-habitat," Ball said.

Highlands Today reporter Aiyana Baida can be reached at (863) 386-5855 or nbaida@highlandstoday.com

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