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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Habitat for Humanity of Autauga and Chilton Counties is gearing up for its next home in Chilton County.

The family selection process will begin in February, but qualifying families can call now to set up an application slot for Feb. 3 and Feb. 5. The hope is to select someone before the end of February.

To qualify, the applicant family must have lived or worked in Chilton County for at least nine months.

Only adults should attend this appointment.

“If they are currently married, both spouses must attend (the Habitat appointment) because they both must sign the mortgage papers,” Carol Risher, chairman of the family selection committee, said. “That is in accordance with an Alabama Law that says that if you are married, both spouses have an equity interest in it.”

To make an appointment, call 205-294-5347 and leave a message for Risher. The deadline to call is Jan. 28.

“The houses are gorgeous,” Risher said.

Much of the materials for the homes is donated from businesses.

“Our people take great pride in their houses,” Risher said.

The goal is for the homes to be safe and affordable.

If someone owns land and wants to apply, that land can sometimes be used. However, Risher said the cost of building could be more for rural areas and increased insurance costs, if not near a fire hydrant, making the project not affordable.

“For Chilton County, we typically build in Clanton or we might build really close,” Risher said.

Habitat houses are purchased by the selected family through an interest free loan.

“That makes a tremendous amount of difference over a 30-year mortgage,” Risher said.

Income qualification is based on the Housing and Urban Development averages income limits for Chilton County. For example, a three-person household would need an income of at least $21,960, but not more than $30,660.

The household number counts everyone who will be living there, regardless of age.

Those who will be listed on the mortgage must also be willing to put in a set number of “sweat equity hours” working on the Habitat house in Prattville in addition to working on their own house when it starts on Wednesday and Saturday.

“Because we are a small affiliate, we build one custom house at a time,” Risher said.

The committee is made up of volunteers.

Each house meets the international building regulations for size and construction.