Groundbreaking ceremony for ARPA-funded Habitat for Humanity homes held Wednesday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Boone County Commission hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday to build Habitat for Humanity homes in Columbia that are funded by American Rescue Plan Act grants.
The groundbreaking took place at 3909 Brown Station Road. ARPA funds will be used to build five homes in the Boone Prairie Subdivision. Five families will be able to purchase these homes at an affordable price, help build them and receive homeowner education through the Habitat for Humanity program.
Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity Community Outreach Director Ashley Switzer said the homeowner education program has a lot of value.
"Once a homeowner is selected, education is really important because they don't have a landlord anymore," she said. "So doing their sweat equity hours that's building their house and the houses of others, they're learning how to use tools, how to  keep their house maintained, how to save for eventual repairs, and getting to know their neighborhood in the community as well."
Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick said the group helps fill a need for housing in the community.
"Affordable housing is hard to come by in Boone County. We know that's hard to come by across this nation right now. And it's an issue that needs  more attention, more focus," he said. "And we we want that to be the case and with the federal ARPA funds. As Boone County Commission was going through making decisions, we wanted to make sure that we funded  affordable housing kind of across the spectrum."
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit organization that works to provide a way for families to own their own homes. It sells homes at low or below cost and provides a 0% interest rate. Switzer also mentioned there are currently 23 homes under construction in the area, adding that Habitat for Humanity has built a total of 176 homes throughout the city.
The program has already begun building homes in the Boone Prairie Subdivision and 12 homes have already been completed.
The groundbreaking took place at 3909 Brown Station Road.
Those looking to apply for the program can go to Habitat for Humanity's website to see if you meet the qualifications.
