BLOOMDALE – Carolyn Jordan never thought she would own a home – let alone pay off the mortgage. But last
week, Jordan, and her husband, John, became the first Wood County residents to pay off the mortgage on
their Habitat for Humanity home.
"Without the help of Habitat, we wouldn’t have our own home," she said.
Prior to moving into their Habitat home at 206 E. Walnut St., Bloomdale, the Jordans lived in a
dilapidated house that was far from ideal for raising a family.
"It was really cold there all the time," she said.
But in 1993, the couple became the first family in the county to help build then move into a Habitat for
Humanity home.
Sixteen years, three children later, and Jordan said, "the walls are still standing."
Jordan remembered the "sweat equity" her family spent building the modest home – the first of
three homes built by Habitat on the quiet Walnut Street in Bloomdale.
"We got to help build the walls from the ground up," she said.
Jordan credited Habitat for Humanity with changing the course of her family’s life.
"I think Habitat is really great. It helps people everywhere," she said. "There are a lot
of people out there who wouldn’t be able to afford a home without them."
That’s exactly why Bowling Green resident Maxine Miller was one of the organizers who started Habitat
building in Wood County. That was more than 20 homes ago, spread throughout the entire county.
"It’s very exciting," Miller said of the Jordans paying off their mortgage. "It’s our
first burning of a mortgage."
Miller pointed out that Habitat for Humanity does far more than just pour foundations and erect walls.
Once a family moves into the house, Habitat volunteers maintain a support system for them. Those homes
and that support can change a family forever, she said.
"I think it has transformed them," Miller said of the families. "I just feel this is such
a worthy project."
Staten Middleton, the board president for Habitat for Humanity in Wood County, said last week’s mortgage
burning was a milestone for the organization.
"It’s a big one. It’s as big as it gets," Middleton said. Not only is the goal rewarding for
volunteers, but also inspiring for potential Habitat homeowners.
"It should be inspirational for other people going through the same travails," he said.
Habitat is currently working on its 22nd home in Wood County, this one in Weston. Though the organization
is continuing to build new homes in the county, the group is also studying a neighborhood revitalization
initiative, which would involved refurbishing older homes.
"We’re considering doing it," Middleton said – with the hope being that more Habitat for
Humanity mortgages will be burned in years to come.
