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The Demopolis Area Habitat For Humanity took time to celebrate receiving a $400,000 grant for the Self-Help Housing Office and Grant Award that will help bring new, affordable homes to Demopolis.

Terrie Charleston, executive director of the Demopolis Habitat program, said the grant means a lot to them to help them offer offer affordable homes for local residents who qualify for the program.

“It finally gives us the opportunity to help build up our city, help build our community, and we can work in the whole Marengo County area to have housing for low to very low income families,” Charleston said. “ To build a house, you had to put so much percentage in it, you had to work yourself. So it’s the same way with self-help housing, you have to do something to help yourself. At the end, where you are spending like $186,000, the house probably gets appraised for over $200,000. So you have already built up equity in that house.”

Board member Alquippa Allen said it’s been a team effort to make it happen and obtain the grant.

“And I’m glad that everyone took out their time to come here and to celebrate this day,” Allen said. “We’ve been waiting for a long, long time. And I thank everyone for making this possible.”

Nivory Gordon, state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said this program will help revitalize the community by providing new housing to replace aging homes.

“As our community ages, we need to be doing things to help people as they get up in age,” Gordon said. “I’m getting of age already of age and I understand that we need the younger people coming behind us to build upon what we’ve already established. Housing has played a very critical role, and I’m proud to serve in an administration that believes in housing.”

Kent Latham with Florida Non-Profit Housing, Inc., who is assisting the Demopolis Habitat with the project, said Demopolis is wealthy with things that matter for a community.

“Your town is the wealthiest town I’ve ever been to not because of money, because of the heart, the love that you have to people from every angle with it as far as all people come together to, to establish and to build a foundation and continue building north upon that foundation for futures,” Latham said. “A lot of towns have gone by the wayside, deteriorated. That’s not going to happen here. I love the spirit is here.”

Charleston said they will be offering homes that range from 1,100 square feet with three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms to 1,800 square feet with have three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, double-car, garage, living room, kitchen and dining room.

“We are getting ready hopefully by next month to start on our first six,” Charleston said. “And when we finish those, we’ll have six more people waiting to get started.”

For more information on the program, contact the office located at 107 North Cedar Avenue at 334-216-0594.