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MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
LAWRENCE
Habitat for Humanity dedicates 84th home
BEN CARROLL news@kansan.com
Kamari Logan became the owner of Habitat for Humanity's 84th donated home on Saturday. Habitat for Humanity has been helping families in Lawrence for the past 25 years.
Kamari Logan, a long-time Lawrence resident, had always dreamed of owning her own house someday. And with the help of the Lawrence Habitat for Humanity and its sponsor, Women Build, her dream became a reality.
The Lawrence Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 84th home at 204 N. Comfort Lane to the Logan family Saturday.
Lindsey Slater, the Habitat for Humanities board of directors said, that they have a certain criteria in choosing families. They need to fall somewhere between 30 and 60 percent of the median income of Lawrence, which is about $77,000. Families must be in need and are required to do 250 hours of volunteer work to
BEN CARROLL/KANSAN
More importantly, Slater said, it's about breaking the cycle of poverty. This has been the organization's mission for every family they've helped in its 25 years in Lawrence.
help in the building process of other donated homes.
"Anytime we can help a Lawrence family that is hard-working and deserving of a house of their own, it's a wonderful feeling," Slater said. "It's even more meaningful that we can help a Lawrencian who has lived here for her whole life."
down as she was officially given her new home just like her mom knew she would.
Kamari said her mother, who passed away in 2000, always knew she would own a home one day. Now 14 years later, she said her mom is shining
"It's a big day," Logan said. "It's pretty overwhelming. I'm going to continue to live humble and give back to the next homeowner and build their house."
"The first thing I'm going to do is bring a rocking chair my mom bought me 14 years ago of her passing." Logan said. "So I still kept that rocking chair when she said she knew I was going to own a home and that rocking chair will be the first thing coming into this house."
The event was to officially dedicate the new home, thank those who volunteered to help in the construction of the house and give Kamari gifts.
One volunteer, Mike Amyx, vice mayor of Lawrence at the time of construction said helping out was for a good cause and it's a good program to get involved with. He helped nail a few nails and place a couple of windows.
"Helping fulfill housing needs
doesn't get much better than that," Amyx said. "It was pretty rewarding."
The University's women's soccer team also contributed in the construction process.
Procter and Gamble donated some cleaning supplies to start Kamari off on the right foot. Other donations included a 5100 gift card to the Habitat for Humanity Restore, which is like a hardware store that inventories appliances like sinks, cabinets and flooring to help furnish her new home.
Alameda, Calif., but grew up in Lawrence and was a 1993 Lawrence High School graduate. She has been working at Hallmark Cards, Inc., for nearly 16 years and is currently working on her nursing degree at Highland Community College.
Kate Walker, the Logan family partner said, it's been a long two years for Kamari building and helping everyday with construction and raising money.
Kamari was nearly speechless and overjoyed. She said it means a lot to her family and now they can get to do what they need to do. And her next move is focusing on getting her daughter through college at Haskell Indian Nations University while still raising her two-year-old.
"We did several fundraisers and a couple luncheons to raise money," Logan said. "I don't think there wasn't a day when Kamari was not out here doing something for help."
Kamari is a single mother of two daughters: 18-year-old Keyahana and two-year-old Khloe. She was born in
The home is the last home in the Comfort neighborhood, which has 15 other homes built by Habitat. A small housewarming and block party event will be held for the neighborhood in August.
"It means a lot; no more renting," Logan said. "I'm very overwhelmed right now."
— Edited by Kaitlyn Klein
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