Habitat for Humanity home dedicated to Tierney family
Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 200th home to the Tierney Family Saturday located on Bradford Street in Franklin as the third home on the street to be built by Habitat.
Couple Laura, a stay at home mom of two children Ruth and Abram, and Ross Tierney, a full-time employee at Whole Foods and part-time freelance writer, participated in the building process and were on site every construction day. The couple and their children have been living with Laura’s parents and will move in to their new home before Christmas.
“It’s been a long four years during the first years of our marriage,” Ross said to a crowd of well-wishers Saturday. The first two years were spent trying and failing repeatedly to get a home the conventional way. We went through four or five times [trying to get a loan but were denied].”
“We found out about Habitat by chance, filled out an application out of desperation, and here we are,” Ross said.
Wayne Weaver Director of Family Services for Habitat for Humanity attended the dedication and said that he was glad that another family could be served.
“We are very excited to reach that point of 200 houses,” Weaver said. “It is becoming increasingly more difficult to do what we do in Williamson County because of the rising cost of housing.”
“We are always constantly reaching out to seek new partnerships and make the right connections. We can’t do it alone. It’s a work we need to continue. People need to know that the police officers and teachers below Franklin’s median household income need a place to live. Where will they live?”
Being within 30 percent of the median income classifies a family as being eligible for a Habitat home among other criteria in the application process. According to Weaver, land in Franklin, or infill lots $50,000 to $60,000 for land only, while a mortgage is about $500 to $575 per month.
At the dedication, the family received house-warming gifts from the Franklin Noon Rotary, including a $250 gift certificate to Home Depot. The Franklin Breakfast Rotary also gave the family a $250 gift certificate. Other churches and nonprofit organizations also gave gifts such as a dishwasher and a basket full of home ware items.
“We are so excited that the home is finished and that we will be moving in before Christmas. It just means so much that we will have our own home to raise our kids,” Laura said.
Photo by Kerri Bartlett
The Tierney family
The Tierney family (Laura and Ross with children Ruth and Abram) were all smiles as they accepted the keys to their new home while surrounded by well wishers and community agencies that contributed housewarming gifts for their new start. Tom Greenberg of Franklin Noon Rotary also gave the family a $250 gift certificate.
