When Anita Hardy and her husband, Tim, finally decided to tour the interior of the Southeast rather than just the Eastern Seaboard, the Colorado couple found themselves near Asheville, N.C.

“We came to an intersection where I told him to turn left, and he turned right like a typical husband,” she said with a laugh. “We ended up in Hiawassee.”

Intrigued with the rolling scenic beauty of the Georgia mountains, they kept going and eventually arrived in Ellijay. They decided to pull up stakes at their windswept homestead on the eastern edge of the Rockies – where they had served with Habitat for Humanity – and moved to Morganton.

“Just as I felt we had a calling to move to north Georgia, I felt a calling to apply to become the executive director for Habitat here,” said Anita Hardy, noting the previous director had stepped down. She’s directed Fannin-Gilmer Habitat since December of 2023.

While speaking to the local Kiwanis Club, Hardy said a common misconception about Habitat – and a question she hears two or three times a week – is “Who are you giving your home away to?”

“It always catches me off guard, because I know we’re not giving away our homes,” she confessed. “So that’s the biggest myth I have to work through on a regular basis. No, we do not give our homes away. We actually go through a very rigorous selection process to select the family for the home we’re building, for them to qualify. They have to show us they have a housing need … (and) the hardest part is they have to show us their ability to pay a mortgage, and that mortgage is based on their income.”

Although Habitat now operates in more than 70 countries worldwide, in the U.S. applicants for a home must prove their income does not exceed 60% of the Area Median Income, Hardy explained.

“Most of our households that we’re serving are earning on a gross wage around $50,000,” she continued. “When I think about a $50,000 income – and raising children, and knowing what groceries cost and everything else – that’s not very much income. These families are making a very low income but they have shown an ability to pay a mortgage, meaning that they have a job. They’ve been working for two years or more, and they’ve worked on their credit. Their credit is of a score that meets a mortgage requirement.”

Debt-to-income ratio, which can include a potential car payment, credit cards and student loans, is also a consideration, Hardy added.

“It’s very, very challenging, but these are the families that we’re serving,” she said. “And the families have to be willing to partner with us. That means they’re going through financial education and home maintenance classes, and they’re helping us build their home as well. So they’re learning a lot about how to take care of their home … and we ask all of this to help them set themselves up for long-term success, long-term self-reliance, long-term shelter and long-term safety for their families.”

She mentioned that the families may be the first in their line of descendants to actually own a home, and it sets an example for their children that the dream of home ownership is possible.

“The average sales price for a home in Gilmer County – in August – was $470,000,” said Hardy, who is also a realtor. “In Fannin County, it was $730,000 … a decent three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,200-square foot modular (mobile) home is going to run a little over $200,000 – and that’s not land, that’s not set-up and that’s not septic, water or power connections. So it’s a little daunting.”

For those who can’t afford those prices, Habitat volunteers help keep building prices for their homes low, she pointed out.

“We have business partners who help with our roofing, our HVAC,” Hardy said of building services. “(We still) have a funding gap in there, so that’s what we’re fundraising for. Our goal is to get families into a home, become homeowners and set them up for long-term success – because they’re working hard to get out of second gear and can’t get into third gear. That’s where we come in, helping them get a mortgage they can afford.”

Other community members and businesses might provide lunch for the volunteers who are building a home. The two-county Habitat for Humanity also has a “ReStore” thrift store where they take donations of building materials for resale. It is located in Blue Ridge at 4187 East 1st Street, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hardy was asked about the benefits of volunteering or giving to Habitat.

“It’s deeply felt by many,” she said. “From learning new skills to building lasting friendships, volunteers experience the joy of helping hardworking families achieve the dream of homeownership. There’s a powerful sense of pride and purpose that comes from working side by side to make a tangible difference. On the build site, heartfelt camaraderie flourishes—regular volunteers greet newcomers with open arms, wide smiles and a shared spirit of service that turns strangers into teammates and teammates into friends.”

Some volunteers have been with the ministry more than 20 years.
“Most of our volunteers have been with us for an average of over five years … They’ve found a community that inspires hope, builds strength and provides opportunities for families to achieve long-term success. Volunteers become more like family members at Habitat, each one supporting and helping the other, and always welcoming to anyone who wants to join. A few hours one day on a build site quickly turns into a lifetime of fun and friendships, while giving back to help a family take that first step to homeownership.”

Habitat for Humanity for Fannin and Gilmer Counties is a nonprofit and seeks grant funding. They also accept financial donations that can be mailed to P.O. Box 1306, Blue Ridge GA 30513. The phone number is (706) 887-0922, their email address is anita@hfhfanningilmer.org and check them out on Facebook, 

by Mark Millican