Forsyth Community Bands Together to Make Family's Dream of Homeownership Come True

Habitat for Humanity – North Central Georgia recently held a First Nail Ceremony for the Fields family whose home will be located on Hammond Lane in the City of Cumming. It was a beautiful morning to start the build and volunteers from all over the community were present to celebrate this moment with the family. The volunteers participating that day helped to put up the frame of the home, which is due to be completed in the spring.

The home is being built in partnership with Melinda Fields whose family includes her mother, Jewel, and two daughters, Hayley (19) and Briana (12). The family has faced many challenges over the years. As the sole income earner for the family, Melinda longed to provide a better home for her family. Melinda has worked for the last fifteen years for the Forsyth County School System as a paraprofessional teacher. Her daughter, Hayley, is attending the University of North Georgia while she continues to live at home.

Habitat is able to build this home due to the generous contributions from the following local foundations, civic groups and businesses; Alcon, Bank of North Georgia, Cisco, Cumming First United Methodist Church, E*Trade Financial, Forsyth County Community Foundation, KeyWorth Bank, MedAssets, North Georgia United Methodist Housing & Homeless Council, the Patterson Barclay Foundation, PCL Industrial Construction Company, State Farm and Verizon Wireless.

“I am so grateful to all of the sponsors and volunteers who are going to help build our home,” said Melinda Fields. “Habitat for Humanity has answered our prayers and we are so excited that in just four months we will have our own home.”

Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes for purchase by low-income families who demonstrate the capacity for responsible homeownership. Since its inception in 1995, Habitat-NCG has completed 273 homes serving an estimated 1,000 family members in the North Fulton area and Cherokee, Dawson and Forsyth Counties. Habitat-NCG does not give away its homes. Partner families, who earn 30% to 60% of the Atlanta area median income, purchase their homes at or near appraised value utilizing 30-year no-interest financing provided by Habitat. In addition, each partner family is required to attend educational classes and perform 200-300 hours of construction “sweat equity.” Family members work side by side with the volunteers, sponsors, and Habitat staff to build their homes. Habitat-NCG’s slogan is “A Hand Up, Not a Handout.” For more information concerning Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia, please visit www.habitat-ncg.org.