The spacious, brightly lit room was completely empty, but it felt full of potential.
James Waddle sat in his wheelchair in the center of the wide-open space that was to be his first home. He would fix meals in the kitchen. In the living room, he’d arrange his furniture and television, decorating the walls in the way he likes. A home office will go in the guest bedroom.
For the first time in his life, he will have a house that he can decorate as he’d like. He can live the kind of life he’d always dreamed of.
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“I’ve been on my own since I was 17 or so. My independence is extremely important to me, to the point where it’s almost a character flaw,” he said. “I’m looking forward to having my independence back. Just being able to take care of myself. This lets me do this in a place where I don’t have to worry about stuff failing.”
Waddle will move into his new home just north of downtown Franklin later this month. He is the recipient of the 19th house built by Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County, an organization which builds low-cost homes and sells it to partners at no profit.
The life-changing opportunity is perfect illustration of what Habitat for Humanity can do for people.
From the beginning, James has been an ideal partner family. He did his volunteer hours, and he was out at the build site every day,” said Lee Ann Wilbur, executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County. “He’s a shining star for us right now. He’s been right there through the whole process.”
In the apartments Waddle lived in previously, often the bathrooms were too small for his wheelchair to fit. He’d have to get out of the chair and navigate his way to the toilet or shower.
His former kitchen was so small, he could only back his wheelchair in because he didn’t have room to turn around.
That all changes with his new home.
“Being able to move around and get places in my chair is going to be huge,” he said.
Waddle was born with mild cerebral palsy. He has been disabled his entire life, though has worked hard to walk, stand and do things on his own as much as possible.
“Just proving people wrong on a daily basis has been my driving factor,” he said.
The home was designed in a similar style as other Habitat for Humanity houses, with only some slight tweaks to accommodate Waddle. The floor plan is more open, with large rooms and hallways ideal for a wheelchair to maneuver inside. Bathrooms are more spacious and have grab-bars if Waddle needs them.
“There’s a lot more space, so that he can be more mobile,” Wilbur said.
The stove features buttons and controls on the front of the console, to lessen the risk of burns while Waddle is cooking while seated in his chair. Pocket doors make more efficient use of space. The garage is located in the back and leads into a unique room where Waddle can clean his wheelchair off before heading into the house.
Volunteers from Servants at Work will make a ramp into the home. A specialized bathtub donated by Plumber Supply had jets and a special seat to make it more comfortable for Waddle.
“There’s a lot of little extra things that people came together to get, which is amazing,” Wilbur said.
Waddle had been renting a old farmhouse in Trafalgar before signing up for Habitat for Humanity. The space was comfortable and provided the room he needed to move around.
But he was unsure how long the rental would continue to be available to him, and it was not entirely ideal for his lifestyle. Because he works at home making websites and doing other computer-based freelance projects, Waddle relies heavily on good wireless internet connection. That wasn’t available to him in Trafalgar.
Waddle’s family suggested that he check into the Habitat for Humanity program, and he was accepted two years ago.
Habitat for Humanity partners with area families to provide them with an affordable home. The organization spends about two months building the houses, then the new owners receive a 20-year, interest-free mortgage for the house.
They are then responsible for monthly mortgage payments.
“It’s not a free house, that’s what people need to understand. They get you to the point to be a first-time homeowner,” Waddle said. “It’s an excellent opportunity to be a first-time homeowner. That’s what really excited me — that I’d be paying towards something that would be mine.”
New owners also are asked to put down $700 on the house to help cover closing costs. Families take financial classes and pay “sweat equity” — 300 hours of volunteer labor on their home and other Habitat and community projects.
Since being accepted into the program, Waddle has completed classes to learn about maintaining a house and creating a budget. He volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a retail outlet that sells salvaged building materials, gently used furniture, appliances and other home items to be resold.
When he could make it, he came to the construction site on Yandes Street and helped volunteers as they built the house. He helped install doorknobs, attached hinges on the doors and nailed siding on the outside of the structure.
As part of the planning process, he worked with Habitat for Humanity leaders to look at potential locations for the house. Habitat for Humanity had a property on Yandes Street in Franklin that seemed ideal.
“My family really wanted me in Trafalgar badly. But Franklin is a nice little town,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of the neighbors; everyone seems really friendly.”
As the start date for construction of his house neared, Waddle was dealt an unexpected blow. He needed to move out of his existing house and into his sister’s house.
That has made him anticipate his new home even more.
“I’m looking forward to a new start,” he said.
Waddle is excited to be living in a city again, after having essentially been isolated in Trafalgar. He will be able to go to festivals and other events in downtown Franklin, and is looking forward to playing pool at the nearby bars that he can easily get to.
“Living in the country, I couldn’t go anywhere. It was down to the end of the driveway and back,” he said. “There were no sidewalks or anything. At least now, I can get out and do some activities.”
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Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County is looking for partner families to go through the program and purchase one of the organization’s future homes.
Potential partner families must meet three basic requirements:
- They must demonstrate a need for housing, as through overcrowded conditions, current housing in need of major unattainable repairs, or unaffordable basic housing costs.
- They must be willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity, including investing hundreds of hours of sweat equity and attending workshops on home ownership and maintenance.
- They must be willing and able to make a mortgage payment
Applications are accepted from March 1 through April 30, and Aug. 1 to Sept. 30. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Information: 317-736-4454, habitatjohnsoncounty.org
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Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County relies on donations to continue building affordable housing for partner families.
The following donations could buy:
- $10: A box of nails
- $35: Roof shingles
- $50: A low-flow toilet
- $75: A window
- $100: A kitchen sink
- $150: Front door
- $2,000: Flooring
To donate online, go to habitatjohnsoncounty.org. Other opportunities to help, such as donating a vehicle or making an annual commitment, are available as well.
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