Continuing to Build Homes in the Community
by Ann Cipperly
While many homeowners plan to spruce up their home during the spring, many families in the community merely dream of owning a home. Their only hope of a decent home is the Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity. Without a nonprofit organization like Habitat, many families would not enjoy a safe and secure home. Helping families meet that basic need improves other family situations and builds our community.
“There is a tremendous need for affordable housing for hard-working families in all communities,” says Mark Grantham, executive director of the Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity. “The mission of Habitat is to partner with others to build homes, community and hope. Most of us take our home for granted since we have always had one, but there are a lot of families that have never had a secure environment for their family.”
Mark grew up in Ozark where he was involved in church ministries at an early age. After high school, he graduated from the University of Alabama and accepted a position in management with Walmart stores and worked throughout the state.
In 1996, Mark and his family moved to Opelika for him to work at the Walmart store. He was strongly influenced by Sam Walton’s leadership. The founder of the business expected managers to be engaged and involved in their communities. “He modeled and expected excellent service towards customers, associates and your community,” says Mark, who became active in many organizations, including the board of directors for Habitat.
After more than 25 years in management, Mark made a career change and spent two years in mortgage banking with a friend at Wells Fargo. He was soon led back to Habitat for Humanity in 2008 to serve as executive director. He partnered with the board of directors to rebuild the volunteer, donor, construction and support base for Habitat.
An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1989. It is a nonprofit Christian housing organization governed by a local board of directors. The Lee County program was formed to help eliminate poverty housing in the community. Since then, the local affiliate has built 77 homes.
“Habitat offers partnership, community building and a hand up to hardworking families,” explains Mark. “We build homes in partnership with sponsors, volunteers and the partner family, and then sell the home to the family at a nonprofit mortgage payment. That makes the payment affordable for the family. These payments are recycled to help build more homes.”
To qualify, the partner families work hard to save a down-payment, volunteer 500 hours on their homes and other houses, as well as be able to afford a monthly house payment. Families also complete home ownership and financial management workshops.
Habitat is a volunteer driven organization. “The volunteers and leaders are important to the success of the organization,” says Mark. “Every home is built in partnership with a local builder. Volunteer construction leaders also lead construction on homes. Each home is built to a high standard of quality.”
Many of the volunteers are retired military, educators, professionals, students, builders and engineers, among others. M. Gatz Riddell, DVM, serves as Habitat’s superintendent in construction and leads volunteers in building. Gatz is retired from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Board president Major Daniel P. Hatcher, USA Retired, and board vice president Lt. Colonel MC McCarthy, USAF Retired, lead and serve from an engineering and military background.
Habitat has worked with many churches, groups and individuals over the years to sponsor homes. “Individuals and groups donate money, labor, construction materials and supplies,” adds Mark. “Grass roots support shows acceptance of our mission across all races, religions and income levels.”
In December 2022, Habitat completed home number 72, which was sponsored and built by the Stone Martin Builders Team (SMB) and their trade partners. “Our past president, Karen Turner, had a goal of a ‘Habitat Home for Christmas,’” says Mark. “This partnership with Stone Martin Builders began a tradition.”
Last year home number 73 was sponsored by the Jones family and built in partnership with Auburn University Building Science, Architecture and AU Panhellenic. Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction and the McWhorter School of Building Science partner with Habitat, which allows them to build better, more energy efficient and sustainable homes.
Owners will have lower energy bills and lower insurance cost because the homes are built to higher energy and sustainability standards.
Habitat home numbers 74, 75, 76 on Cherry Avenue in Opelika were built partnership with the City of Opelika, West Fraser Lumber and Stone Martin Builders. “The SMB team and amazing group of trade partners planned and built three homes for Christmas 2023 in only three months,” says Mark. “These three homes were built to an Energy Star Certification with fortified roof system for three hardworking families.”
Home number 77 is being constructed in Auburn in partnership with AU Building Science, AU Panhellenic and WeHelp Coalition Churches.
“The leadership in Opelika and Auburn strongly support affordable housing for hard working families in our community,” says Mark. “Both cities support the work of nonprofit affordable housing providers like Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing. We are blessed with good working relationships with mayors and city councils in both cities.”
Auburn Opelika Habitat is continuing to build community through relationships with Auburn University Architecture, Building Science, Stone Martin Builders, Auburn Blower Door and others. Together they seek out ways to build more sustainable and efficient homes.
Another one of those many partners in the building industry is Holland Homes. Daniel Holland has given back since forming his company, Holland Homes. He built alongside Habitat in the early days, and his company’s current partnership helps many nonprofits in our community with thousands of dollars each year.
“We don’t take for granted the partnerships with our many community partners,” Mark says. “If it were not for Habitat and our partnerships with so many groups and individuals, then many hard-working families would not know the dream and responsibility of owning a home.”
Habitat’s Restore in Opelika generates money to build more homes and also reduces cost for home goods. At ReStore people can donate, recycle and purchase home goods.
For his outstanding work leading Habitat, Mark received the Arthur Hill Community Service Award from People of Action for Community Enrichment (PACE) award in January this year. The award is given to a deserving member of the community who is making significant contributions to the community through his/her time, actions, talents and dedication.
“It is such a blessing to be able to help a family realize home ownership for the first time,” says Mark. “We have families excited and waiting right now. We want to help them.”
“Habitat’s mission is seeking to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.”
Those wishing to apply for a Habitat home can attend an application meeting in the spring. The details are posted early each year on the Habitat website and Facebook page. The basic information and income guidelines are on the website. The entire process takes approximately two years.
Habitat is actively looking for donated land and sponsors to help build the next home. Donated property should be tax deductible. Donations of any amount are appreciated. To help, contact Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity at 334.745.2123 or [email protected].
