Two Indianapolis families have a new place to call home this month, thanks to a church, a nonprofit and more than 500 community volunteers. The church, Eastern Star, donated two lots to Habitat for Humanity, and volunteers braved the cold alongside the future homeowners to build the homes.
On a chilly Saturday morning, friends, family and volunteers gathered outside of the homes for a ribbon cutting ceremony, and the owners received the keys to their new homes.
Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson with Eastern Star Church says his goal goes beyond building houses. He hopes to revitalize one of Indy’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
The unemployment rate in the 46218 ZIP code (4.6 percent) is higher than for the whole of Marion County (4 percent), and the median household income of 46218 residents is $25,292, a little over half of Marion County’s median of $42,378. Over 38 percent of residents in the area live at or below the poverty line.
“46218 is one of the most economically deprived communities in the nation, not just in Indiana,” explained Johnson. “When you look at the life of Jesus Christ, Jesus would go find the least, the lonely, the left out and he would make changes. We are trying to follow the model that Jesus set, so that’s why we are here.”
Two children prepare to cut the ribbon to Ashley Finger’s new home. (Photo/Curtis Guynn)
Johnson grew up in the neighborhood he now serves in what he calls a “broken home.” It was the members of the surrounding community that mentored and helped him get to where he is now. Johnson started The ROCK Initiative to enhance the range of housing options available near the church while building a sense of community among neighbors. Johnson plans to build 40 homes in the 46218 ZIP code over the next five years, all to be sold at affordable prices. For each home the church builds in Indy, they plan to build another in Haiti.
“We are also taking the homes that are rundown and abandoned, buying those and renovating them. We already own some apartments with 20 units, and we are building new apartments. On the first floor there will be community service-oriented businesses. We have a federal credit union coming in, we have a behavioral health business and we want to have a fresh food co-op there,” said Johnson. “Our goal is to make this neighborhood a place people can afford to live at, but also a nice community. We also have a financial freedom aspect where we show people how to manage money from a biblical perspective. After they get in a house, they need to know how to take care of it and manage their money.”
Jasmine Britton, one of the recipients of a Habitat home, said before receiving the house she took part in financial counseling from the church.
“The classes helped me learn how to budget. We talked about ways to save money for the future, and it was through Dave Ramsey, and it was pretty neat,” said Britton. Britton will be moving into the home with her children, and she is thankful to the church and volunteers for helping her get to the place she is now.
In addition to developing housing, the church is donating tech equipment to a nearby school and mentoring the students.
“We are trying to bring this community together for a goal, so they can accomplish the things they feel that they need,” said Johnson. “It was community that came together to pour into me, so it’s a privilege to be doing it for others now.”
To learn more about The ROCK Initiative, visit easternstarchurch.org.
Jasmine Britton receives a new Bible to take into her new home.
