Habitat for Humanity is a program that helps low income families purchase their first homes.
It’s intended to lift financial burdens by eliminating interest rates and setting an affordable price.
Donna Warnock, a recipient of the program, said her new living conditions are unacceptable.
In April Warnock moved into a home on Spruce Ave. that was made available by Habitat for Humanity in Blair County.
She said she agreed to pay about $90,000 for the home and she is committed to work 350 sweat-equity hours.
In her front yard there’s no access to her front door, rather a large hill leading up to it.
Cathy Spayd, Treasurer for Habitat for Humanity in Blair County, said that was never part of the plan.
“The plan for the house was always to use the back alley as her main entrance area,” Spayd said.
Warnock said she has a floor plan which illustrates her house was intended to have front access, with stairs leading up from the main street.
The alley leads to her backyard and driveway which hasn’t been landscaped.
After heavy rains Warnock says its prone to flooding, forcing her to build makeshift walkways.
Warnock son Amos Burkett, 15, is autistic and is worried that he’ll have access to the school bus during the winter.
“It’s not safe if you look over here, these steps this the only access I have down to get to the garbage or get to the mail or get to the front road,” Warnock said.
Spayd said each residence comes with a funding limit and this home has reached its cap.
Adding that this property’s layout was agreed on by both parties.
“We certainly understand her dilemma she wasn’t aware from the beginning that that was gong to happen…I don’t think she knew at that time that the school bus wasn’t going to go back there,” Spayd said.
But Warnock said this isn’t what she signed up for.
“I want my home that I paid for that i worked for. I put my money down and that i was promised,” Warnock said.
Habitat for Humanity said they are aware of landscaping issues in Warnock’s backyard, but invasive weeds are delaying any new groundwork.