Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County announced in a news release last week it is beginning a new program designed to will help lower-income homeowners spruce up the exteriors of their homes.

“Brush With Kindness is a program that Habitat International has had for aw hile, and we are happy to implement it here in Ellis County,” said Linn Ann Huntington, HFHEC co-chairwoman.

Homeowners meeting income-eligibility guidelines can apply to have Habitat volunteers do repair projects to the exterior of their home. However, homeowners will be expected to pay Habitat back for the cost of supplies.

“That money will help us fund other projects,” Huntington said.

Projects can include such things as painting, replacing broken windows, installing storm doors, building a small storage shed, or installing a ramp, to name a few, she said.

“If we got a request for landscaping, we would emphasize xeriscaping,” Huntington said

The chapter’s Homeowner Selection Committee will review applications for the Brush With Kindness Program to determine eligibility and need.  Then a member of the chapter’s Construction Committee will meet with the homeowner and come up with a cost estimate.
The Construction Committee will then make recommendations to the board on which projects to undertake and in what order of priority.

To be eligible for the program, the applicant must be a homeowner whose annual income does not total more than  $39,600.

Habitat guidelines state that the homeowner’s income must be no more than 60 percent of the median income for Ellis County, Huntington said. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development website, the median income for Ellis County is $66,000.
To receive an application, individuals can write Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County at P.O. Box 444, Hay, KS  67601.

Habitat for Humanity is an international Christian organization that builds decent, affordable homes for those in need. In the past, the local Habitat chapter has built three homes, two in Hays and one in Ellis.

“Now we are excited to start this program that will help lower-income homeowners stay in their own homes, hopefully for years to come,” Huntington said. “So if you meet our income guidelines and need some painting or repairs done to the exterior of your home, please let us hear from you.”