New Affordable Housing

McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio – A local nonprofit dedicated a new home on Bell Street in McConnelsville.

Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio Executive Director Ken Oehlers detailed the endeavor and explained the need for modern, affordable housing.

“It really takes a community to build a community. And so we’re very grateful for what we’ve been able to accomplish here today. This house was built in partnership with the Morgan County Land Bank, all of our community partners, Mid-East Career Center, Survivor Advocacy Outreach program and the Ohio Department of Development through the Welcome Home Ohio program. So everybody from the career center students to the village administration, to the land bank. Everybody was part of this to make this house a home for our family,” Oehlers said.

Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Services Director Debbie Gibson explained the process that the recipients of the new houses have to go through to earn the ownership and calls it a hand-up instead of a hand-out. 

“This is very important to them. They learn all about home ownership, they have stability, they have affordability and the children get to grow up in their home and not have to relocate. They’ve proven that children with stability do much better in school and go on into college and fulfil their lives. As a young family and young mother, she’s giving her children an opportunity that’s once in a lifetime,” Gibson said.

Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio covers eight counties helping residents who are struggling financially to not only earn their own home but by also helping elderly homeowners with limited incomes make the needed repairs to stay in their homes.