ONTONAGON - Ontonagon County Habitat for Humanity volunteers have been busy renovating a home in the village of Ontonagon and are searching for a family to move in when it's complete.
"Right not, we've been working on it slowly, but as soon as we have a family lined up, we'll pick up the pace, said Rev. Howard Neider, Habitat president. "It hasn't been a high-speed project because we don't have a family waiting."
The house, located on Minnesota Street, was donated to Habitat for Humanity. It is one of half a dozen either built or renovated by the nonprofit organization since coming into existence.
Habitat for Humanity offers homeownership opportunities to families unable to obtain conventional house financing and qualified families will be required to maintain an affordable mortgage and provide an affordable down payment.
"We are accepting applications at this time," Neider said.
Interested families must indicate their family size and income on the application. A family will be selected who can make mortgage payments and have resources for long-term house payments, he said.
"We need to be responsible about the families we select," he said.
Volunteers at this particular house have been upgrading the heating and plumbing, along with structural and interior remodeling, he said. Habitat for Humanity was given the house during the winter.
"We started putting a roof on it this spring," he said.
Neider said they hope to have the house completed by snowfall or sometime by November, with a waiting family. The folks at Habitat also hope the family chosen for the home is capable of helping Habitat.
Those interested in the house can send a letter to Ontonagon Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 143, Ontonagon, MI 49953, or call 884-2404.