St. Tammany News

There were tears, laughter and lots of hugs outside a little stretch of Slemmer Road Monday afternoon as Habitat for Humanity West St. Tammany held dedication ceremonies for its Faith Village.

The six new homes, three occupied and three getting close, were financed and built by faith-based organizations. Six families received ceremonial hammers, Bibles and keys to the homes that Habitat representatives said symbolize not just new residences, but new futures. More than a couple of the recipient family representatives choked up as they thanked Habitat's many donors and volunteers. Perhaps more than a hundred from Louisiana and beyond were in attendance.

Representatives of the six families who have homes in Faith Village line up for the ceremonial presentation of Hammers, Bibles and keys. Pictured are, from left: Nedra Sylvan and her son, Dylan, Priscilla Sharp, Joey Maddox and his daughters Elaine and Ella, Cleo Quave and her daughter Destiny, Mary Stogner and Sara Sherman.

"This means so much to us," said Mary Stogner. "We lost a lot a long time ago. This gives some back to us."

Through tears, she, in turn, presented the key to her husband, Lorne.

"This gives us something back," she said.

The Stogners' home has ramps and is being fitted to accommodate their 22-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy. It sits near the center of the strip of shiny metal-roofed, front porch-equipped homes.

Ground breaking for the Village took place in January 2007 thanks to a $150,000 donation from International Orthodox Christian Charities. Since then, church groups, religious organizations and members of the community have joined forces with the homeowners to get their new houses up and ready for occupation.

Priscilla Sharp wept when she tried to say "Thank You" Monday.

"My son, Richard, is mentally challenged and has never been able to take care of himself," she said before that emotional moment. "He keeps me busy, and having a home would mean stability for us. We need this house. It's like the clearest blue sky after a rainy day. A nice rainbow smiled on Richard and me. For so many years I thought I would never be able to buy a home, but Habitat proved me wrong."

Each of the six families has assumed a no-interest mortgage that will, in turn, support future local Habitat home construction. Recipient families also work in partnership with volunteers from throughout the parish and around the world to build their own homes and those of other families.

Terri Gage, director of family services for the local Habitat, said being selected to receive a Habitat home means "different things to different people."

"The one thing they have in common is it's a new start," she said. "It's a chance for a new life. When we don't have a decent place to live, we can't think of other things."

Eleven other Habitat houses are reportedly currently under construction in West St. Tammany Parish. Ten more will be started in May, and work on another six will get under way in June. The goal is 50 new homes this year.

Forty-three Habitat homes were built locally last year, for a total of nearly 140 in West St. Tammany Parish.