Habitat - Profit or Non-Profit?

The Americus and Sumter County Branch #5160 of the NAACP asked New Horizon Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sumter County, Inc. if it was true that New Horizons Habitat had to purchase a policy for home insurance coverage for Ms. Betty Williams' home after she had filed bankruptcy to save her home three years ago. The answer was yes. Ms. Williams' side of the story is that after she came out of bankruptcy court she entered into a new agreement for one year with New Horizons Habitat, and that she has not missed a payment. Ms. Williams further states that the insurance payment is included in her monthly payments. Ms. Williams wants to know why she did not receive the insurance payment to help repair her home after it was damaged by storm winds earlier this year, 2009.
New Horizon Habitat stated that they are holding the insurance money because it is not enough to repair Ms. Williams' home, and there are no other visible means that seem apparent to get the rest of the home repaired. However, Ms. Williams stated that Dodson's General Contractor & Rentals, her family and friends are willing to repair the home for her and have already started repairing the house. Ms. Williams stated that she is continuing to meet her payment obligations with New Horizons Habitat and that the insurance money would really help buy the materials needed for the repairs. This new group of volunteers reminds me of when we first started building the house, Ms. Williams said.
 

 

 
New Horizons Habitat however stated that, "in fact, this would not even come close, and would really just be throwing this money (insurance) away given the extreme disrepair of the home. Ms. Williams states that, "it would not be throwing the insurance money away, but it would help her and her disabled son continue to have a place to live and a place they could call home." Ms. Williams says that repairs are already underway with the limited funds she has to buy materials needed for repairs.

New Horizons Habitat states that the City of Americus Building Inspector, David Parrott condemned the home as unfit for human habitation, addressed under IPM Code, Section 108.1.1. Ms. Williams stated that she and her son are not currently living in the home; however the City of Americus has recanted Mr. Parrott's earlier recommendations that the house be demolished. The City of Americus Building official, Jerry Crawley issued Ms. Williams a permit on November 10, 2009 to allow repairs on the home.

New Horizons Habitat states that they do not feel that there is any practical way that Ms. Williams' home can be repaired and made habitable and to realize that we (NHHH) are going to suffer a substantial loss on this loan because of the way the home has been maintained by Ms. Williams. On the other hand, Ms. Williams stated that New Horizons Habitat's only concern is to take her home from her. She says that her home is repairable and can be made habitable. Ms. Williams further states that if New Horizons Habitat was truly a "Christian Organization," they would be trying to help to keep her in the home instead of trying to force her and her disabled son out. Dodson' General Contractor & Rentals has submitted a proposal to NHHH that only requires the amount of the insurance money to complete the necessary repairs outlined by the City's official building permit.
New Horizons Habitat asked local NAACP President, Mathis Kearse-Wright, Jr., in a letter from their Attorneys Gatewood, Skipper & Rambo, P.C., dated November 10, 2009, requesting that he go over to the home and go inside, and that he would be truly shocked by the state of the home. President Kearse-Wright did as requested and took pictures of the home inside and out. President Kearse-Wright stated that one of the workers pointed-out that the home had been built substandard because some of the foundation joists were old and when the new material was nailed to the old material the nails would not hold properly.

President Kearse-Wright stated that he was shocked by the state of the home, but even more shocked that after viewing the workers making repairs and painting rooms; why would New Horizons Habitat a nonprofit organization, be so bent on taking Ms. Williams home? In the same letter sent from New Horizons Habitat legal team, stated that they planned on applying the insurance proceeds against the loan to somewhat reduce its losses, seeking "leave from bankruptcy court" to foreclose on the property and sell the home to the highest bidder as provided by Georgia Law. President Kearse-Wright stated that this behavior does not sound like a true nonprofit organization to him? I believe that it cost money to seek "leave from bankruptcy court" because attorneys cost money and so do foreclosures. They took the money from the insurance company and planned to sell Ms. Williams' home to the highest bidder as provided by Georgia Law.

We have many questions such as; what happened to the donated materials, funds and volunteer labor that went into the building of Ms. Williams' home? Is New Horizons Habitat a nonprofit organization? Does New Horizons Habitat truly work for humanity or Georgia banking and lending laws only? We also would like to know if New Horizons Habitat is selling the contracts of homeowners, like Ms. Williams, to banks or any other mortgage or lending institutions. Finally, if a donor earmarks a contribution for a particular home to be built, should the family who the contribution was made to and is no longer living in the home; can the donor request the return of their contribution?

President Matt Wright stated that in the same letter he was cautioned by New Horizons Habitat for Humanity attorneys to have his facts straight. If anybody needed his facts straight it would be Attorney Gatewood because he wrote that the house was condemned by the city and should be demolished but our records show that the house is currently being repaired. In fact, Habitat is still holding the insurance check in the amount of $3,992.71 which the contractor needs to complete the repairs.
 

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