Habitat starts 13th LV-area home

Monday, May 5, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Habitat for Humanity has broken ground on its 13th home in Southern Nevada.

The 1,600-member Clark County Bar Association is sponsoring the project at the corner of Moser and Rexford streets in Henderson.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday by the organization that builds, sells and finances homes for the working poor who otherwise would not qualify for purchase of a single family dwelling by conventional means.

This is the first Habitat home sponsored by the organization of attorneys. The groundbreaking was held in conjunction with Law Day on May 1.

"Seeing a bunch of attorneys with hammers and nails is the last thing people may expect," said Kathy England, spokeswoman for the bar association. "Yet it shows that we are an integral part of -- and dedicated to -- our community."

The home will be sold to Liz Epperson, a single mother of three, who said in a news release issued by Habitat: "I never thought I would own a home. Even though I have had the same job for three years, I just could not afford the typical prices.

"What it means to me is a better place to live and security for my kids."

Meanwhile, Habitat is in the final stages of completing the 12th home it started building last November at 1912 Evelyn Ave., also in Henderson.

Habitat, which was established locally in December 1990, offers no-interest loans for the working poor to buy quality new homes. The new homeowner helps build the house or work on other Habitat homes.

Homeowners are required to put 1 percent down. Using the homeowner's gross income, Habitat then structures affordable monthly mortgage payments.

A typical local Habitat home is a single-story, three-bedroom, two-bath structure. They average about 1,200 square feet and have garages or carports.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1977. Former President Jimmy Carter is one of its strongest supporters. He has helped in the construction of some of the thousands of homes nationwide.