Covington County Habitat for Humanity needs community support to move forward with its plan to build this fall.

The local non-profit organization has already constructed two homes for families and has three other families on the waiting list. Now, finding adequate funding to construct the homes has become a pressing priority.

“We had hoped to start building this fall,” chairman Dale Pancake said. “We’re almost there, and I feel confident that we’ll make that goal, but we need money to do it. We’ve built two houses in two years, and that’s a lot to be proud of, but those three other families are now waiting and are in need.”

Pancake said the family selection committee has chosen one family in Florala and two others in Opp as the next Habitat families. No decision has been made as to who exactly will get the next Habitat home, he said.

“We’re working hard to get the $10 Club up and going strong,” Pancake said, speaking of the fund drive that asks contributors to pledge $10 per month to Habitat. “It’s the price of two Big Macs, but it makes a huge difference when you add it all up. For those families, it will hopefully add up to a house.”

Pancake said each of the families has completed each of the Habitat requirement for a new home with the exception of the sweat equity requirement.

“All (prospective homeowners) must dedicate 300 hours of labor or sweat equity before they can receive a home,” he said. “Each of our three families is waiting to do that.”

Pancake said all are “still hopeful” the build will meet its fall construction date.

“There’s no way to project an exact build date, but we’re optimistic,” he said.

It costs approximately $60,000 to construct a HFH home, and the last Habitat home, which was constructed for the Marshall family in Andalusia, was completed in May.

Pancake said anyone wishing to make donations or to pledge in-kind services or materials can call 222-0827 or by mail at P.O. Box 1034, Andalusia, AL 36420. Donations are tax-deductible and checks should be made to “Habitat for Humanity of Covington County.”