The road to becoming a homeowner may have been a tough one, but Kenyatta Brimmage has no complaints. The single mother of two is the latest Beaufort County recipient of a Habitat for Humanity Home.
“I enjoyed it, every bit of it. I loved it,” Brimmage said after a dedication ceremony Saturday.
“Every bit” included a credit check, income check and 200 sweat equity hours.
John Reiner, a member of the Habitat for Humanity’s board, led the construction project. He said prospective homeowners had to be employed, have reasonable credit (at least in the mid-400’s) and no outstanding debts that would prevent them from making the monthly mortgage payment.
Brimmage spent weekends installing insulation, painting, cleaning and helping wherever needed.
The reward was a three-bedroom, two-bath newly-constructed home with a 30-year mortgage payment that is less than most one-bedroom rentals.
“The mortgage is about $400, paid back to Habitat in a no-interest loan,” Reiner said. “That mortgage includes taxes, insurance and termite protection. For that $400, you get a 1,000 square-foot house for less than $400 a month.”
Brimmage learned about the program from her soon-to-be neighbor, Janice Williams. Since moving into her Habitat for Humanity home in 2012, the day before Thanksgiving, Williams said she has not missed a chance to tell people about the program and encourage them to apply.
“I’ve had no complaints,” Williams said. “ They are very organized and professional. It’s just been a blessing that they chose me and my family to be a recipient.”
Brimmage said the whole process took less than a year. But the wait has been the hardest part.
“They are a godsend,” she said of the organization. “They are a blessing.”
Reiner said about 35 volunteers made the construction possible. To get involved with Habitat for Humanity, call 975-1750.