There may few guaranteed things in life other than death and taxes, but hard work toward a worthy goal doesn’t hurt.
This was the key sentiment when Wes Bowman, executive director with the Southern Oklahoma Development Association, approached Pauls Valley’s city council this week with the possibility of participating in the process of getting someone in dire need a new home.
Funded by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as many as four or five families in each of the 10 counties served by SODA are eligible to get a new home each year.
This means that at least one family in Pauls Valley that either owns or is paying for a home, while living in it for at least a year, that is beyond repair could have a new house built in its place after the old one is torn down and disposed of, said Bowman.
Approximately $250,000 is provided for each county, though right now the plan is in the pre-application process, which will determine which communities can receive funding.
Mayor Tim Gamble and the council gave their blessing to pursue the project and said they understood that it is worth it even if it has not yet resulted in a new home for the city yet.
A person can also only apply if they are low income, with the city reviewing applications during the final phase of the project, and while mobile homes are applicable, replacements have to be the same as what was on the property before, with none of the old material reused.
“We recognize the chances are slim, but at least it is a chance for needy citizens here,” said Gamble. “We do it every year and though it has not happened in Pauls Valley it’s a worthwhile effort.”
Once a community is allowed to apply, advertisements will be made available to media and the response is always strong with around 150 resident applications from each participating community, said Bowman. Out of those, 30 are usually chosen for further review and this ends up with 3-5 homes chosen to be built in an area.
Once the process gets to the point where someone can have a new home built, the city council would be expected to match up to 25 percent of the money through services such as labor, said Bowman. This means that there is no financial cost other that helping the families build their new dwelling.
After a home is completed, a family is not charged anything, but are obligated to stay in the home for five years and keep insurance on the property, said Bowman. As many as 100 homes are built in the 10-county area each year and Bowman said this has been constant during his 15 years with the association.
“One house in a community is not going to change things in the big picture, but one house for a family will change their lives,” said Gamble.
“We aren’t out financially because it does not cost us a thing other than moving sand or equipment.”
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