Habitat Ready To Build In Overton, Applications Due

Overton County residents in need of a new home can now apply for the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership program.

Director of Homeowner Services Maren Bader said Habitat is prepared to build its first Overton County home in three years. Bader said she extended the deadline through Friday to tie up loose ends with interested potential applicants who had not yet completed the process.

“We’re looking to expand farther in the Upper Cumberland,” Bader said. “Now we are focusing in Putnam, Overton, and we’re just excited to help as many people as we can. We are looking for more land in Overton County if anyone has any land they know is opening up, we would love some more lots to be able to build some more homes.”

Bader said anyone in need of an improved living situation who is willing and able to pay through Habitat for Humanity’s Affordable Mortgage Program is qualified to apply. She said residents can apply in person at First National Bank in Livingston or call the Cookeville Habitat for Humanity office.

“If anybody can get up to the bank and get an application or call our local Cookeville officer and get an application, if they call me and set up an appointment time to drop them off, I’m willing to extend that a little bit as long as they get that and give me a call and let me know that they’re interested,” Bader said.

Bader said Habitat for Humanity values Overton County even though the Homeownership Program has not built there recently. She said the Race to Build 5K will be held in Overton County for the third straight year. She said as more suitable lots become available in the county, Livingston and Overton will become very active focuses of the program.

“We went through some changes with staff and our Executive Director,” Bader said. “COVID happened, which was the biggest one. We moved our Restore and our offices. We were doing a lot of senior repair projects in Overton County, but it’s been a while since we’ve built an actual home. So we’re excited to get the Homeownership Program going back up, but we have been active in Overton County, just more on the repair side.”

Bader said income requirements exist, but are not rigid. She said applications detail the preferred income level for the program. She said people living in overcrowding, people living with friends or family, and people renting from landlords who are not maintaining their units adequately are perfect prospects for the program.