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Saline County Habitat for Humanity looking for new family for Harrisburg house

SALINE COUNTY – The county's chapter of Habitat for Humanity is looking for a family for the home it is building in Harrisburg, according to the group's president.

"Our partner family has withdrawn, and we've already started building the house at the corner of Oak and Longley in the Dorrisville area," Habitat President Bruce Boone said. "We started the house and got it 'in the dry' but we're going to slow down a little bit while we're looking for a new family.

Habitat for Humanity offers families the chance to purchase a home at a reduced price, in exchange for "sweat equity," meaning time and energy spent helping to build the home.

Usually, the partner family and Habitat works together to plan and construct the house. In this case, though, with construction already having started, the structure being built will be the next available Habitat home, Boone said.

Boone said because of the holiday season, Habitat will start actively looking for a new partner family after the first of January.

"We'll announce it, and we'd advise anyone interested to look at our Facebook page. There's lots of posts and information there."

He said the group plans to develop a Web page that will have an online pre-qualification application.

"If they do pre-qualify, then it would notify them, and we can meet with them. Usually, we sit down with them to fill out the application and tell them what to bring," he said.

In addition, Boone said he will be stepping down as the chapter's president at the end of the year when he retires. He's been with the group for 12 years, and says he has many good memories of the goals they've accomplished.

"We've built four houses during that time," he said.

Plus, he said, the group also is looking for more members of the community to potentially join. Habitat for Humanity meets the second Monday of each month at the Bonan Business Center in Harrisburg. Boone said those interested are welcome to attend a meeting and see whether they like what the group does. Participation is not limited to those with construction knowledge, he said.

"People think everyone has to know how to build a house, but that's not the case," he said. "There are many things people can do to help the construction process. There are things like sweeping, perhaps babysitting for someone else so they can help with construction; we need a lot of volunteers to help."

He said with the closing of the Golconda Job Corps and the Hardin County Work Camp, there is less labor for projects available, meaning Habitat needs all the help it can.

For more information, visit Saline County Habitat for Humanity on Facebook.