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Photos by Bob Moore, © 2000, Southwest Illionis News
EAST ST. LOUIS (SWI-News.com) July 10, 2000 - Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built and rehabilitated more than 90,000 houses in some 2000 communities worldwide for needy families with low incomes. The organization received national attention in 1984 when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn began working as volunteers. New affiliates have formed throughout the country with members of churches working side by side with families to build simple, decent homes. The East St. Louis Habitat organization was formed in 1982. According to Board Member Jesse Miller, the group has successfully built 22 new homes and rehabilitated approximately 12 homes. "We are now in the process of trying to build at least one or two new houses each year," he said. "We're starting out the year 2000 with these four unites currently being built at 17th and Henrietta in East St. Louis. The organization hopes to have four new families in the new homes by the end of the month." He commented that Habitat is a place for people who can't afford a conventional loan to own a home. With help, they put in an application and if accepted, they put in required sweat equity hours. "After the sweat equity hours, they have a small down payment and a no interest loan. The funds in return will go towards the building of another house," he said. Habitat volunteer, Rich Copeland of Mascoutah, Illinois, acknowledged that this was the second home he helped to build in East St. Louis. Copeland, a Master Sergeant, has been stationed at Scott Air Force Base for the past five years. "I got involved in Habitat for Humanity in St. Louis several years ago," he said. "I saw that it picked up here in East St. Louis, so I've been volunteering every time I see a house going up. I learn stuff as well as helping out my neighbors."
For the past several days, Habitat volunteers have been working in extremely hot weather with temperatures hovering in the nineties and an heat index of nearly one hundred and ten degrees. The project has also been hampered by lack of power from AmerenUE. "Everything has been inspected and set up," said Miller. "However UE has not responded by turning the lights on. So, at the present time, we are using generators. Hopefully by the day's end, we will be back to our normal operation," he added. Return to Southwest Illinois News  
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