Family receives first two-story Habitat for Humanity home in Garland County

During the eighth annual Habitat for Humanity Heels to Hammers event, a family of six received the very first two-story Habitat home in Garland County.

The Habitat crew, which started on the house Oct. 4, wrapped up Thursday around noon. Partnering organizations and volunteers will continue to work on the house in the coming weeks.

Each year, the Heels to Hammers program encourages women of all skill levels to take part in building a home for a local family, assisting the veteran builders in the organization. Men are also welcome to volunteer for the event.

The family that will be moving into the house, located at 505 Grove St., consists of a single mother and her five children.

“Habitat has a matrix that they use for determining what children can share bedrooms,” Cindy Wagstaff, executive director of Garland County Habitat for Humanity, said. “And it just so happens that this is the first family that has the dynamic that each child needs to have their own room.”

According to Wagstaff, it is more cost-effective to build a second story than to build outward.

“So, she is in a three-bedroom house with her five children,” she said. “And because it is so small, it is considered substandard housing, so we are putting her in decent, affordable housing.”

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With each Habitat for Humanity home, recipients are responsible for paying a zero-interest loan. These homes are currently sold for around $90,000 to $110,000 in Hot Springs. The proceeds of the mortgage payments go toward future Habitat homes. This home in particular is expected to cost around $160,000.

Habitat for Humanity raises all funds for homes locally through the three ReStores in the county, donations and recipient mortgages. The Garland County office currently holds 110 mortgages.

To qualify for one of these homes a family must meet the following three criteria: they must earn 30-60% of the area median income (adjusted based on household size); possess a willingness to get involved with their own “sweat equity”; and have the need for housing.

Sponsors of the build include Window Mart, Lowe’s Home Improvement, First Security Bank, Karen Garcia, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, National Park Medical Center, Relyance Bank, Simmons First Bank, ReMax of Hot Springs Village, State Farm-Ike Eisenhauer Agency, McGraw Realtors and Express Employment Professionals.

Lunch and coffee were provided by Diamond Bank and Collective Coffee + Tea.

Volunteers included a group from National Park Medical Center, McGraw Realty and various banks.

“Heels to Hammers is actually a really great way to introduce women to a non-traditional role of construction,” Wagstaff said. “A lot of these ladies have never swung a hammer, and so they’re getting to learn how to swing a hammer, they’re cutting the wood for the house. Our regular crew has a fantastic time in giving instruction and teaching the participants .”

A volunteer installs house wrap at Habitat for Humanity’s eighth annual Heels to Hammers build. – Photo by Lance Brownfield of The Sentinel Record
Habitat for Humanity volunteers begin laying the upper floor for the first two-story Habitat home in Garland County Thursday morning. – Photo by Lance Brownfield of The Sentinel Record