Susan Martinez
The Port Arthur News
PORT ARTHUR —
Sweat pooled, then trailed like teardrops down Miranda Thomas’ face as her eyes followed every pencil stroke on every wooden beam. Her black do-rag was already drenched this early morning in Port Arthur as she squatted on a pile of two by fours waiting to get started.
Though the pounding of hammering and sizzling sound of the saw had not yet begun, Thomas’ heart beat was set to a ready rhythm. Her thoughts panned to the threshold of the first home she will finally get to call her’s.
In her mind, she has already hung the family portrait of her and her two children, LaDawn and Donnell Thomas. The dust from time in storage has been blow away and the new framework of her life was being polished before her eyes.
“It’s something I never thought I’d be able to do,” Thomas said, wearing a broad, knowing smile.
She is soon to be the 101st owner of a Habitat for Humanity home in Jefferson County. This particular structure will be a three-bedroom, bath-and-a-half dwelling on 4th Street in Port Arthur.
“There’s an amazing bond with that home and less of a chance of losing the home,” said Habitat representative Uliana Trylowsky referring to the 300 “sweat hours” of commitment each future homeowner must log.
Thomas said her first order of business in the new home is to enjoy her personal space.
“I want to be able to have my room and just peace and quiet and to know that this is mine and can’t nobody put me out,” she said.
She is slightly sad to be leaving her rental home, she said because she’s had a great landlord. But now at age 41, she is happy to have a full-time job at Judice’s and is eager to walk across the finished threshold.
Robert Ames, foreman on the job, indicated retirement is tempting at his age — 72 — however, the brick mason of 27 years and home repair business owner 19 years said he’s not the type to just sit around.
In two days, Ames will celebrate his 73rd birthday, while working at the site. He has been with Habitat for about four years.
Nathella Collins of Beaumont was in Port Arthur working on Thomas’ house, fulfilling the remaining 160 hours she has left to step into her own home, which has already been built.
With only the flooring left to be put in, Collins eyes her new home like a favorite dessert that can’t be touched right now.
“It has been a long process,” Collins said.
While the individual homeowners must put in a total of 300 labor hours toward Habitat Humanity homes, families may also be enlisted to fulfill the sweat equity requirements.
A cousin was working alongside Thomas on Wednesday and on Tuesday Collins’ cousin, Katrina Horace of Beaumont and a family friend were on site to help out.
“That’s how you can really tell who your family and friends are,” Thomas said.
Financers of the project also rolled up their sleeves at the site.
“Today, I’ve learned how to raise a wall,” said Judy Little, assistant branch manager at the Gateway and Mid County Capitol One Bank.
“Yes, physically it can be a challenge, but overall it’s a good feeling,” she added. Little remembers all too well the feeling of home ownership. She said it’s a peace of mind that says nobody can tell me I have to move again.
Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County is a Christian based, ecumenical not for profit organization whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing. The organization has been responsible for building modest, affordable homes together with partner families who cannot afford a conventional or government-backed mortgage.
The homes are sold at cost through zero-interest mortgages. Since 1979, 101 homes were sold just in Jefferson County. An estimated 14 of those were erected in Port Arthur and three in Sabine Pass.
The Sabine Pass posed a challenge to builders who were not used to building pier and beam homes.
“Needless to say, we couldn’t have volunteers helping with that process since the homes were built 15 feet off the ground,” Trylowsky said.
The last 50 homes built in Jefferson County cost about $55,000, a total of $2.75 million in mortgages. This does not include the administrative costs Habitat absorbs in preparing escrows and the various insurance coverage. In addition to maintaining the mortgage payments, homeowners must also provide a $700 downpayment.
Supporters of the project included Capital One Bank, Wilton and Effie Mae Hebert Foundation, TOTAL Petrochemicals, Entergy Texas and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
smartinez@panews.com
