Habitat for Humanity Calcasieu Area Inc. is hosting an open enrollment seminar for those who want to apply to buy homes that will be built next year. The seminar will be 5-6 p.m. Thursday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 300 N. Blake St.

Clara Bergeaux, family service manager for habitat, said there is a concentration on finding applicants who are veterans, disabled or elderly. A news release said the organization “plans on building and rehabilitating two- and three-bedroom homes in Southwest Louisiana in 2015.”

She said the need for housing will continue to grow as industrial expansion projects begin in the region. The result could be higher monthly rents and more expensive home sales.

“It’s great that all this work is coming here, but it will make all these homes and rent go up tremendously,” Bergeaux said. “It’s just like what happened after Hurricane Rita. It amazed me how the rent went up for apartment (complexes).”

The program requires homeowners to pay back their mortgage, but Bergeaux said it’s zero percent interest. Their note will not increase unless their homeowners insurance rate goes up. They must also repay Habitat for “the fair market value of materials, contract services and cost of land for a 25-year period,” according to the release.

Homeowners have to spend 300 hours working on the construction of Habitat homes before they can buy a home. At least 120 hours must be spent on constructing their own home.

Applicants must live in the five-parish area, be able to pay a monthly note and have income “below 50 percent of the average median income” for the parish they live in, according to the release.

“Some people think they can’t have their own home and buy it, but you can through this program,” Bergeaux said. “It’s a great program for families who have outgrown an apartment or the home they live in now.”

Applications can be picked up at the Habitat office, 3551 Ave. C. They must be returned by Dec. 1. For more information, call 497-0129.(American Press Archives)