The Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity will soon add DeKalb County to its service area.
Executive Director Pam Ealey said the DeKalb chapter was volunteer-ran for several years. Ealey said the affiliate has faced challenges keeping the mission going under that model.
“At DeKalb many of them have been involved for the whole 20 years, and they all want to serve families,” Ealey said. “That’s what it is all about, and with our resources, we will be able to increase the number we serve.”
Ealey said Habitat for Humanity International has already approved the merger. Ealey said all that remains is the legal work with the state. Ealey said the merger could be finalized in October.
“It’s just a timing thing now,” Ealey said. “We have to have a meeting with home owners, and they will assign their deeds over to us. They own two or three lots, so they will assign those lots to us too. With the October 29th chili cook-off, we want to make sure we are going now and not delaying anymore.”
Ealey said with the merger, the DeKalb chapter would dissolve. Ealey said the Upper Cumberland affiliate would take over all assets, home mortgages and fund raising events. Ealey said the organization is also looking to establish a DeKalb office.
“We are going to have a staff member in Janurary that will either spend their day in Overton or DeKalb County,” Ealey said. “They may spend a week in Overton depending on what we are doing, and then, they may spend the next three days in DeKalb.”
Ealey said discussion on the merger began before the pandemic when the DeKalb Board President Alex Woodward introduced the idea. Ealey said after a pause, the two groups were finally able to move forward this year.
Ealey said a public meeting has been planned for this Tuesday at 5:30 at the DeKalb County Complex to talk with volunteers and home owners about the merger.
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