Here in our own hometown, there are many people who just need that extra hand-up to make homeownership a reality.  Habitat homeowners come in all sizes, races and religions, but one common thread is the desire to make life better for themselves and their families.

Habitat homeowners are hard-working citizens and purchase their homes for approximately $60,000 with a 0% mortgage and a 20-year term.  They are also required to work sweat equity to help build their own home and provide the volunteer labor alongside many other volunteer partners.

It is not easy to work 300 to 500 hours of sweat equity while raising children and working, especially if you are a single-parent family.  But somehow, all the sacrifice is worth it to experience the joy of watching your children embrace their own home, play in the yard and know that it is their own home.

This joy will be shared by 11 families in the new subdivision, Charleston Creek, which is being developed by North Collin County Habitat for Humanity in public/private partnership with local and nationwide organizations.  It is located on Charleston St. just off Throckmorton and Highway 380 east of Highway 5.

“North Collin County Habitat for Humanity took an area of east McKinney several years ago and changed the community on Lively Hill Street.  Six new homes were built in an area that used to be a trailer park.  The other homeowners on the street took an interest in their property and began fixing them up.  Since then, it has been a dream of our Board to really make an impact and build a subdivision.  This will be an asset to our City and something that everyone who has had a part in can be proud of,” said Jim Owens, President of the Board of Directors.

Adjacent to the subdivision is a newly renovated Wattley Park.  It includes a playground, pavilion, swings, and lots of open space for baseball, soccer and kites. The City of McKinney is also providing infrastructure improvements to the streets surrounding the property to update the area through the Capital Improvements Program.

The homes in the development will feature front porches, 2-4 bedrooms, 1-2 baths and have 900 to 1250 square feet.  The homes feature laundry rooms, large kitchens, a covered carport and storage building.  The families select their own exterior paint colors, carpet and vinyl flooring, countertops, and cabinet finish.  The homes are simple and decent homes built with high quality, energy efficient standards.

The dream of the Board of Directors to build a subdivision became a reality with an application to the City of McKinney Community Development Block Grant program.  The grant to purchase three acres of land lit the spark that began the new subdivision.

A commitment was then made by Rick Horton of DR Horton Homes to oversee the development of the subdivision and help cut the development costs in half with assistance from his partners and engineering firm, Jones & Boyd.

The McKinnney Community Development Corporation approved grant funding of $130,000 to develop the infrastructure in the subdivision.

Several families have already been selected for homes in the subdivision and more will be approved in the months to come. 

One of the families has a unique story.  Alfred Oku was born in Accra, Ghana as part of the Ga Tribe.  He was the son of a minister who was the Tribal Chief responsible for a small town and members in the town. 

He attended University schools and was educated in business bookkeeping. Unfortunately, his father died and Alfred lost the privileges of attending University schools.  He then began working in imports/exports at the airport and met many business people and his wife Lily Laryea.  After a visit with his sister in the United Kingdom and discussions of world news, he realized that the United States was the place he had always dreamed.

Alfred, which is the Christian name meaning “One who God blessed”, was lucky enough to win the lottery from the Ghana government for immigration to the United States.  He painstakingly received all his immunizations and made the trek alone to New York with much of his savings going for Visa and plane fare costs.

In June 2003, he was invited by a Ghanan friend to visit McKinney and he fell in love with the community and knew this was the place to move his family. He began working many jobs and now works for the Medical Center of McKinney and Kroger in hopes that he will soon be joined by his family who remain in Ghana.  He has four children ranging from age 4 to 11 who are so excited to come to McKinney and live in a new Habitat home with trees and grass.

“I think it is good for each and everyone to get their own house.  A house is a future for your family to get a good education.  When people have their own house they are in a safe, secure place and have high hopes” said Alfred Oku with a large smile on his face.

Alfred enlightens everyone he is around as his bright eyes and smile are contagious.  He is so friendly and eager to help.  His home and others in the subdivision will be built during a Homebuilders Blitz. 

Jim German, Vice President of the NCCHFH Board of Directors, exclaims, “We are so excited to be a part of the National Homebuilders Blitz and are hoping that at least six homebuilders will join us to kick off the subdivision. This will be the first time that North Collin County Habitat for Humanity will participate in a national building media event with families, homebuilders and partners across the United States.”

The Homebuilders Blitz is a national Habitat event with the goal of building 1,000 homes in one week in June of 2006.  So far, Darling Homes, Paul Billingsly Builders and Realtors, Drees, and Mercedes Homes have committed to the subdivision along with National Partners BMC West, Whirlpool, Valspar, and Square D. 

The ground was broken on the subdivision in August with over 200 in attendance including the funding and building partners, local Council members and other Habitat homeowners.

This subdivision is truly a dream come true not only for the community of McKinney, but also for those that will soon call it home. It will truly change the neighborhood and be a positive impact on the surrounding area.

Contributors:  Olive Swearingen, Habitat Family Support member for Alfred Oku

North Collin County Habitat for Humanity is a Christian Housing Ministry that works in partnership with families and community organizations, churches and businesses to build affordable homes in a decent community.

About the Writer:  Celeste Faro is the Executive Director of North Collin County Habitat for Humanity and lives in McKinney with her husband Chris and children Sebastian, Luciano and Sofia.