Chester County Habitat for Humanity has met residents’ needs for shelter with a brigade of volunteer labor and donations for more than 25 years. Showing support for that work, Bryn Mawr Trust Company welcomed area business leaders to its Willowdale Branch to hear about Habitat’s latest project.

The idea of matching people who need shelter with people who want to help is the basis of the international organization Habitat for Humanity. Those in need are asked to work to build their own house along side volunteers. Habitat provides an interest free 20-year mortgage.

Executive Director of the Chester County chapter Chip Huston, told the audience that although Jimmy Carter is often identified with Habitat for Humanity, the organization was actually founded by Millard Fuller. A self-made millionaire, Fuller decided to change his life, gave away his fortune and began work to help the poor.

The model developed by Fuller in Africa has been successfully replicated throughout the world. The Chester County chapter as part of its obligation to the international organization supports building throughout the world. Habitat has built 120 houses in Chester County and has supported an additional 135 houses world wide.

The project on display was the development of 40 houses in West Grove borough. Eight clusters of five homes will be built. Architect for the project, Dennis Melton, was on hand with a diagram of the proposed homes.

Getting to know your neighbors often happens on or after moving day. In this project, five prospective homeowners will work side by side to build five homes. They will not know which of the five homes is theirs until the homes are finished.

Part of the 200 hours of sweat equity the prospective owners invest will be in the classroom. Money and property management is taught. There is no building supervisor to call for help when you have a problem on own your own property.

Owners pay the interest free mortgage and the taxes on the property. Habitat collects the money and re-invests it in the next house. There have been five foreclosures of the 120 houses built in Chester County. Those houses were reassigned to new residents.

People are chosen on the basis of need of housing, for example, a homeless family or one living in a house with no heating. Another consideration is the family’s ability to pay. Recently, 300 people expressed having a Habitat home. When a meeting was called to explain the program, 66 people showed up. Of those 66, only 22 filled out applications. Finally, seven were selected.

All buildings are LEED Gold certified which means there are efficiencies that lower the consumption of utilities.

Another Habitat initiative is to offer rehabilitation and repair services for people who have a home that is not providing adequate shelter.

Most of the financial support comes from private and corporate contributions.  ReStores are another source of income. ReStores provide area residents with access to thrifty shopping. Household items are donated then sold in the Kennett Square or Coatesville ReStore. The profit from these stores has paid for two and a half houses.

Events are also used to promote the organization and raise funds. A golf outing will be held June 16. The “Harvest to Home” gala will be held at Radnor Hunt Sept. 27.

For more information about Chester County Habitat for Humanity go to http://hfhcc.org/