Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette is offering six newly built, two‑story homes in Frankfort’s North Meadows and Baldwin Court subdivision to qualifying families, with organizers stressing that the opportunity is “not too good to be true” and urging residents and workers in Clinton County to apply promptly.
Kim Deck with Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette was a guest with Cindy and Melissa on WILO 96.9 FM, Boone 102.7 FM and WILO 1570’s Party Line program this morning at 8:30 AM. Party Line is broadcast LIVE daily and streamed LIVE world-wide and archived at www.HoosierlandTV.com.
New Baldwin Court homes nearing completion
Six three‑bedroom, two‑bath houses are under construction on Baldwin Court in the North Meadows neighborhood, with another home going up at the end of John Street, according to Habitat for Humanity representative Kim Deck. The John Street house already has a partner family assigned, but Deck said all six Baldwin Court homes remain available and appear to be about 70 percent complete, with late‑summer move‑ins a reasonable expectation. She described the development as “a cute little neighborhood” where crews “have done an incredible job getting them under roof and then just going straight in” to interior work.
From the curb, the houses resemble market‑rate new construction: two‑story designs with attached garages, covered front porches and modern siding colors that match surrounding homes on Baldwin Court and in North Meadows. Deck said that in more typical Habitat projects, families often choose details such as siding, roofing, cabinets and flooring, and that these Frankfort homes are similarly intended to be “beautiful homes” that blend into the community.
Who can qualify
Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette serves seven counties, including Clinton and Carroll, and Deck emphasized that applicants do not have to currently live in Frankfort or even in Clinton County to qualify. Someone who lives in another service county but works in Clinton County—for example, commuting from Carroll County to a job at Frito‑Lay—could be eligible. She noted that many potential applicants assume they will not meet the guidelines or that the offer “is too good to be true,” and said the organization wants to counter that perception.
Income ranges and other criteria are posted at www.lafayettehabitat.org, where visitors should select the Clinton County section to see the locally specific numbers based on household size. Deck added that staff in family services are available by phone to walk people through the process and help them determine whether they qualify. “Let us help see if you really qualify,” she said, adding that speaking directly with staff can be easier than trying to decipher the guidelines alone online.
Healthy Communities of Clinton County has also offered practical help on the front end. Deck said staff member Laura Archibald is willing to sit down with anyone who comes to the Healthy Communities office in Frankfort and assist them in filling out a Habitat application.
Partner families and sweat equity
While Habitat homes are often described as being “given away,” Deck stressed that selected families invest both labor and finances. Each partner family is required to complete about 250 hours of “sweat equity” working on Habitat projects, often on the very homes they will occupy. She recently saw a Lafayette partner family member taking vacation days to work an entire week on a bicentennial‑themed build alongside volunteers from CenterPoint Energy.
Deck said she hears powerful stories when families learn they have been selected. One Clinton County family, she was told, came to a local event “beaming ear to ear” with children excited to finally have a permanent home in Frankfort. For many, the move ends a cycle of frequent relocations, couch‑surfing or sharing space with relatives. “When families and children can stay in one place…their grades, their emotions, their confidence, everything in those kids just blossom,” Deck said.
Community support and future builds
The Frankfort projects reflect a broader network of support that includes local government, the Community Foundation and private contractors. Deck said grants “play a major part” in keeping costs down, and noted that the City of Frankfort has donated two additional lots where Habitat plans to build more traditional volunteer‑driven houses starting as early as late summer. Roofing companies, electricians, plumbers and other trades regularly donate materials or labor, she added, describing their contributions as “critical to keeping our costs low.”
Habitat’s ReStore in Lafayette also feeds into the mission by supplying low‑cost building materials, appliances and furniture, with proceeds going back into homebuilding. Deck said some recent Lafayette houses have used ReStore and surplus materials extensively, and weekend bargain‑hunters can find both used and new, in‑box items donated by big‑box retailers.
Looking ahead, Deck said Habitat would like to continue building in Frankfort as long as suitable vacant lots with access to city utilities are available. In the meantime, she urged Clinton County residents to help spread the word about the Baldwin Court and John Street homes. Even if current listeners are not in the market, she said, “maybe their niece or nephew is looking for a place” or a family in their church needs stable housing and “may qualify” for a Habitat partnership.
