If you have driven by 112 Empire in Galva lately you have noticed the builders in Galva and McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity have started building another home in McPherson County. It will be the 25th home built in the county since McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity built its first home in 1993 and the second in Galva. The ranch style house walls will go up on Saturday, September 22 – weather permitting. Lisa Brewer and daughters Nicole and Ashton and grandbaby Aaliyah have been selected as the newest homeowners. Currently living in Galva, Lisa is working to accumulate her 200 sweat equity hours required as a part of homeownership. Completion date for the house is by the end of the year, 2012. Volunteers will be needed as the house is being built. If you are interested in helping, contact Nick Nickelson at Nick’s Home Center (620-654-3650) in Galva for more information and scheduling.

The Bruce and Angela Benham family have been selected as the new homeowners for the house located at 625 South Gildersleeve in McPherson.  Bruce and Angela have three children:  Wade age 5, Joselyn 3 and Isabel 1.  Construction has begun on the lot and the house should be complete by the end of November 2012.

The second homeowner is the Lisa Brewer family.  They have been selected for the house located in Galva at 110 South Empire.  Lisa is a single mother with daughter Nicole age 16, daughter Ashton 12 and 20 month old granddaughter Aaliyah. Construction is slated to begin soon.

Both families will be contributing sweat equity hours as the houses are being built.  McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity is pleased to join with the Benham’s and Brewer’s as they work toward moving into their new homes.  We also look forward to working with the McPherson and Galva communities as volunteer opportunities are available during home construction.

Download the build schedules for our project at 625 S Gildersleeve, in McPherson. This is an overview of the schedule. More details and specific dates will be published on our events calendar as they are available. We look forward to your participation in this build!

“Your dreams....your home.”  That’s what McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity volunteers have in mind when they help someone else realize their dream.

An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity will begin construction of its 23rd home in June in McPherson. The goal of Habitat is to create opportunities for affordable homeownership for families who demonstrate housing need, have the ability to pay the monthly mortgage payments, and are willing to invest time and effort into partnering with Habitat.  The Jennifer Farr-Brewer family of McPherson is looking forward to the construction of their new home at 313 N. Oak; the Brewer children, ages 15, 14, 11, 10, 8, and 7 will continue to attend school at McPherson High School, McPherson Middle School, and Lincoln Elementary.

McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity selects applicants whose housing is not adequate and are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means.  Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure, water, electrical or sewage problems or excessive costs, inadequate number of bedrooms for family members, or an unsafe neighborhood.  Applicants must also demonstrate proof of a steady income, be willing to work through credit challenges, and earn a combined household income between 25% and 60% of the median family income in McPherson County.  Selected families are also required to complete 200-300 hours of “sweat equity” on their home, other volunteer work, educational activities, and homebuyer education classes before their Habitat homes are completed.

Habitat homes are sold for the cost of materials on a 20-25 year, 0% interest mortgage, and monthly mortgage payments average $450-$500 for current Habitat homeowners.  Payments are made directly to McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity to help build more homes.

McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity was first organized at McPherson College in 1992. The affiliate has grown surely and steadily, and in 2011 will add its 23rd new home in McPherson County, with homes not only in McPherson but also Galva, Lindsborg, Windom and Moundridge.  MAHFH  has always enjoyed strong support of the McPherson Area Contractors Association.  Contractors often dedicate a full week out of their schedules to volunteer for a one week blitz build.

Habitat for Humanity is an all volunteer Christian organization, but strictly follows the government’s Equal Housing Opportunity guidelines.  The selection of families who will purchase homes from McPherson Area Habitat for Humanity is done by the Family Selection Committee and approved by the Board of Directors using criteria that does not discriminate based on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, faith, marital status religious affiliation, or because all or part of the applicant’s income is derived from public assistance programs.  Habitat’s philosophy of “a hand up, not a hand out” helps to develop successful homeowners for those who meet the basic guidelines for homeownership.

Volunteers, individual or organizational, are always welcome in the construction process.  This assistance may be in actual construction, finishing, or simply providing meals and snacks for other volunteers.  For more information on donating time and/or financial assistance, please contact Bill Parker, MAHFH Executive Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 620-241-0886.