For the remainder of 2009, Habitat plans to build at least 15 homes in its new Hamill Ranch subdivision.

“It’s all part of one subdivision, Hamill Ranch, on 14 acres of land at the corner of Champions Forest Drive and west Rickey Road,” Northwest Harris County Executive Director Rachel Wright said.

At left, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County help build a home for a family in need.

The biggest obstacle for Habitat for Humanity throughout the years has been land acquisition. The need for the homes is often overwhelming, but Habitat is only able to build homes on the land available.

According to Wright, in 2006 20 homes were built. That number dropped to 10 in 2007 and fell to eight in 2008. But with the acquisition of the 14 acres for Habitat’s newest subdivision, roofs will once again be raised in a frenzied pace.

Wright explained that Hamill Ranch will be divided into two sections, Hamill Ranch and Hamill Crossing, which will be located across the street. The subdivision also will feature a community center, which will provide local residents with programs such as academic tutoring.

Wright said the sense of community in a Habitat subdivision is often stronger than that of a typical neighborhood.

“One of the big advantages for the family themselves is that they have a sense of a community you wont find in other neighborhoods,” she said. “You didn’t hammer any nails for your neighbor’s home, and I certainly didn’t. Part of our mission is creating a community for our families.”

Habitat has built two large subdivision in Tomball, as well as in several other areas in northwest Houston since the mid-1990s.

When Habitat for Humanity builds a home for a family in need, they so only with the agreement that the family who will occupy the home will help build it, and will also help build other homes in the area.

Wright said with the current economic climate Habitat is seeing a drastic increase in applications for homes. Also, the organization did not hold its annual Builders Blitz last year.

Builders Blitz is a week in which a local builder will send a team of workers to build a home in a week at no charge. With the housing market crisis, Wright felt as if she couldn’t ask homebuilders to send workers out for free when companies in other areas of the state were laying off workers.

Wright also said corporate donations have “definitely taken a downtown and the need for affordable housing has taken an upturn.”

“But I think for us we’re very fortunate that we can rely on the generosity of churches and individuals,” Wright said.

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