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Within 30 minutes after Bishop Anthony B. Taylor blessed the concrete foundation and workers, exterior walls of Habitat for Humanity’s Pope Francis House started to appear.
About 40 Catholics from Central Arkansas worked July 2 alongside veteran volunteers to put up the exterior and interior walls on a large lot on Geyer Springs Road in southwest Little Rock. Quietly and happily working alongside them was Regina Goynes, the homeowner who is currently homeless.
An anonymous, out-of-state donor gave $60,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County to build the home in honor of the pope. CHI St. Vincent contributed the remaining amount to build the home. Similar homes have been built in at least a dozen cities.
Goynes will contribute “sweat equity” for five mornings in July and August as well as paying a zero-interest mortgage. The home is scheduled to be ready by the pope’s first visit to the United States in September.
Lee Bass, a Habitat board member and member of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, is a member of the Over the Hill Gang, which builds about 10 houses a year in Pulaski and Lonoke counties.
“With Habitat you have people who are struggling,” he said. “A lot of times all people need is a little chance and they move from struggling to made it. They are paying $1,000 for rent and it goes no place and they just have a shelter. With Habitat, they get an interest-free loan. For less than $400 a month, they can own their own home. It’s a no-brainer. … By the grace of God, that could be me.”
Bass said he would like to see more Catholics get involved as volunteers.
“To be honest, I have asked the question why the Catholic churches haven’t gotten involved,” he said. “There are lots of good things Catholic churches do, but we haven’t been as involved in Habitat for Humanity. I see this thing as a nexus for moving forward for doing some additional homes.”
David Fox, another board member and parishioner at Christ the King Church in Little Rock, said Habitat is another way for Catholics to serve the poor in Central Arkansas.
“It’s a helping hand up, candidly,” he said. “It’s not a hand-out. I personally value that approach. I always want to help people who want to help themselves.”
Goynes’ biggest joy of homeownership is the extra-large yard where she can plant a vegetable, fruit and flower garden.
“I want to get back to growing things for my family and the community,” she said. “I grew up gardening … I am thankful I get to have this and nobody can take it away from me. Gardening is like being next to God. You have solitude and conversation with him and you aren’t bothered by the world’s problems.”
An employee of the garden center at Wal-Mart, she has been living at Our House homeless shelter for nearly two years. With each paycheck, she is required by Our House to save a portion in a savings account. The account now totals about $10,000 and will allow Goynes to pay down her mortgage.
The mother of three adult children and three grandchildren has attended financial planning courses and took on a second job to become debt free in preparation for owning a home.
“I always wanted a house, but I never pictured it,” she said.
