Special to Dorchester Banner/Habitat Choptank
The community is invited on Aug. 2, at 9 a.m. to celebrate the completion and sale of Habitat Choptank’s first home in Hurlock. Hurlock resident Tynita Cummings will be purchasing the new home at 408A Charles St.[/caption] HURLOCK – Habitat for Humanity Choptank will be celebrating the completion and sale of its first home in Hurlock. The community is invited to join in the house blessing celebration on Aug. 5. A brief program will start at 9 a.m. followed by a chance to tour the home at 408A Charles St. This milestone house is the 73rd completed over Habitat Choptank’s history and coincides with the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary. The Charles Street house is a new construction build. Hurlock resident Tynita Cummings, an employee with Caroline County Department of Social Services, will be buying the home. Ms. Cummings is ready to make this purchase having met all of Habitat’s requirements in terms of completing 300 hours of sweat equity in lieu of a down payment, attending education classes on finances and home maintenance, savings $4,500 for costs at settlement, and eliminating any outstanding collectible debt. “I never thought that I would be a homeowner,” says Ms. Cummings. “But Habitat laid out the program and I followed their expertise and it really came together.” While modest in size at 1,056 square feet, the house Ms. Cummings will buy meets Habitat Choptank’s construction standards in terms of quality, sustainability and energy efficiency. The combination of these features with an affordable mortgage produces housing that is more durable, healthier to live in, and more affordable. Construction began on this home in April 2016. The property was donated to Habitat by the Town of Hurlock. Following this sale, Habitat Choptank will begin construction on its second home. The next Hurlock build site will be on Jackson Street where Habitat has three lots ready for development. These properties were purchased several years ago with a grant from the Nathan Foundation in anticipation of Habitat’s expansion into North Dorchester County. More local volunteers are needed for construction. No prior skills are required; just a willingness to learn and support the Habitat mission. Over the last quarter of a century, Habitat Choptank has provided affordable mortgage financing to give hardworking lower-income working people who cannot qualify for conventional financing the chance to purchase a home. After completing “sweat equity” hours and pre-homeownership classes, these buyers will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume responsibility for repaying an affordable mortgage. Currently, 12 other buyers are working through Habitat’s home purchasing program to purchase homes in Hurlock, Cambridge, Easton and St. Michaels. The nonprofit accepts applications throughout the year. For more information about Habitat, to volunteer or make a donation, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.